Unlawful for businesses to discriminate

A Nov. 21 letter by Ollie Laird was vociferous in support of a Des Moines businessperson who refused to serve lesbians. The letter writer maintained that a business can “reserve the right” to refuse service to anyone it chooses.

While I have seen signs in businesses asserting such “rights,” they do not exist. Businesses have to follow the law. Imagine a restaurant that refused to serve Catholics or women - or a car repair shop that routinely charged women more for the same services. All of these businesses could claim they are following their religion, but that does not make it legal. Civil rights trump religious conviction. Business owners who don't like the fact that some people are gays or lesbians don't have any “right” to discriminate.

You don't have to look far in our past to see people who wanted to refuse service to bi-racial couples, mixed-religion couples, etc. Now it is gays and lesbians. Such discrimination is illegal and just plain wrong.

Rex Clemmensen

Iowa City