The Religious Freedom Resto- ration Act (SB 975, orignally HB 1228) has drawn moreattention to Arkansas politics than almost anything else in recent weeks, and the crossfire of opinions has not been entirely pleasant.
The bill passed the Arkansas House of Representatives on Tuesday and Gov. Asa Hutchinson, after requesting changes be made to the legislation, signed the new bill on Thursday.
One of the main arguments against the original bill is that it would be easier to discriminate against the LGBT community. But then countering that thought is the overarching idea that the government should not be involved in private companies.
The whole thing is just a sticky situation. There are extremes on both ends of the spectrum. In recent years, there have been multiple lawsuits with businesses such as florists and bakeries because the owners refused to provide their services for a gay couple’s wedding.
One such instance was with a florist in Washington state. According to a Washington Post article, a gay couple wanted Arlene’s Flowers to provide flowers for their wedding, but “Arlene’s Flowers, could not provide the flower arrangements for his wedding because doing so would have constituted a demonstration of approval for the wedding itself,” according to the owner. However, she did sell goods to the men that were not specifically for the wedding.
This is where I believe the root of the problem lies. I do not think that a business should deny a customer goods simply because he or she has different beliefs, values, or identifies differently.
But I do believe that private business have the right to decide who they serve. Individuals have the right to oppose gay marriage, and in the case of private businesses such as bakeries or florists, the government should not force the owners to cooperate or to pay damages. In all of the stories I have read, the business owner is cordial and respectful, simply saying that it goes against his or her beliefs to endorse the marriage.
I am not promoting discrimination, and Hutchinson has said that it is not the intent of SB 975 to do so either, according to USA Today.
It is not the duty of the government to regulate how private businesses operate. Business ethics are formed by individuals and their beliefs, not by the government.
As a citizen and current Arkansas resident following this story, I do not think that the state government has been clear in presenting what the legislation will and will not protect and who it applies to.
I am still trying to understand how to interpret the bill and I’m sure the debate is far from over. The vague wording of the bill itself leaves it opens to many intepretations, and this is an issue in and of itself.
