Gay Pride.

Hello Again!
So I just wanted to write on this topic because it disturbs me. Let's start out with.. I Support Gay Pride and Gay Marriage. Always have, always will.


---If my opinion on this post is going to offend you, don't read it.---


I bring up this topic because I was on a recipe blog today and I saw one for a rainbow cake. I was pretty excited because I love to dye cakes and pancakes and everything! So I was excited to hear about how they did theirs. And then I started reading the comments. Some people amaze me at how stupid they are. Since the rainbow flag represents gay pride, people turned the conversation to that subject. Here's the story: I guess a couple months ago, a company called "Just Cookies" was asked to make a bunch of rainbow cupcakes for a gay pride event. They refused with the reply of "we don't make cupcakes". That's understandable. But then.. they came back with the comment "I explained we're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters, and we thought maybe it was best not to do that." Are you freaking kidding me? These people need to get out into the world a little bit. They could have left it at "we don't make cupcakes" or at least offered cookies.. But they had to later add that it wouldn't be good for their daughters to see them support and event like that. That is just ridiculous. So as I read the comments, I wanted to punch some people in the face.

Here is a little bit of what I read:
The Bad-

[I am proud of that company for standing up for their beliefs. Christ promised that we would face hardship as we followed him. . . I am so thankful for the encouragement that this world is temporary and we can continue to hope in Christ and in a time when the truth will be made known to everyone. I hope that bakery stands firm. God will bless them for the steadfastness in the face of persecution.]


This one really made me want to punch them in the face. Read what she has compared this to.. They are totally different things. It's ridiculous!
[If you own a private business you should have the right to do business with or not do business with anyone you want. They didn't put up a sign saying something negative or positive about the event, they just declined an order. If they have enough business that they can afford to turn down the order fine, even if they are on the verge of closing their doors they should have the right to refuse the order.
If they were refusing to make cupcakes for the KKK or for a Mosque I'm guessing people would be lining up to order from them to show their support.
It's a sad time when it's only acceptable to express your opinions when everyone else agrees that you are being politically correct.
Personally, I think it's ashame we can't accept people for who they are regardless of their color, race, religion or sexual preference, but no one should be told what to believe. Saying the people who own this bakery HAVE to make the cupcakes for this group would be like telling the group it's wrong to be gay.] Nobody said that they HAD to make the freaking cupcakes. They just asked and it was the reason WHY the bakery declined that there is a problem..

[As a small business owner, I would have to completely agree with Just Cookies decision. I would have done the exact same thing. Regardless if I made cupcakes or not! As a photographer I wouldn't photograph a same-sex wedding, and I wouldn't photograph a vampire wedding! I wouldn't photograph a lot of things. I am not a bigot, just a business woman with discernment. If the client's lifestyle/requests don't sit right with my convictions then they can look for a photographer elsewhere.]
If you want to lose business, that's your own choice..

[If you are an atheist business owner, say, a cake maker... do you have the right to not make christening or baptism or confirmation or dedication or bah mitzvah cakes? Isn't that a right of the business owner?]

[This is just ridiculous. Good for the shop owner for saying no.
To me there is a difference in someone coming into your shop to buy your product and someone coming in with a special order that will be used at a homosexual event.
I'm tired of our society becoming so enraged when someone takes a stand against homosexuality. Christians have been quiet for far too long. Why? Are we afraid we are going to step on some one's toes? What God says is sin is sin and we shouldn't knowingly support it with our dollars. (That's why we've banned Home Depot.)
Reading this also made me wonder what God things of His rainbow--His symbol for a promise as you said-- turned into a symbol for homosexuality, something that He says is an abomination.]

[The rainbow means the same thing for me as it does for you. I wouldn't boycott them. And you are absolutely right, it isn't right that they stir up contention and trouble for others when they say they want all to be accepted. We all have a choice. I applaud them for standing up for their beliefs, for not making-up another reason to give as to why they wouldn't take the job, instead of copping out and giving one that is more socially acceptable in today's climate.
It is hard knowing that a symbol of love and peace means something different, contrasting to the beliefs of so many others.
We currently use the rainbow in our logo (family business) but have been trying to convince my father-in-law that it's time to dump it, it means something so much different, and we don't want to pass on the wrong idea. We don't want to imitate that which doesn't fit into what we believe.
I pray that these people are blessed for doing what they believe to be right, not bending with the winds of opposition that are blowing at them and giving in.]

[But what about those of us that share a different opinion? I own a rental property...happen to live here with my four children. I disagree with homosexuality. Should I be forced to rent to a homosexual couple?
I ran a home daycare. Should I be forced to take in a student that has same-sex parents?
As gay marriage becomes legal in more and more states, are churches going to be open to lawsuits if they refuse to marry a same-sex couple?
I'm not acting hateful. I don't hate persons that are gay. My hairstylist is gay...I've gone to him for almost 15 years. My sister and brother both went through a period where they thought they were gay...still loved them and treated them with respect.] Yes lady, you have the right to refuse kids for the daycare or renters of the apartment. But that's not what this is about. It's the reason why. If you refuse the kid at your daycare JUST because he has gay parents, that's discrimination and that's rude. But this is what I don't get, so if you would want to deny a child at your day care just because he has gay parents, why would you go to a gay hairdresser? Does that make sense to anybody else?



And now for some good- :)

[OK fine. They don't serve cupcakes. The issue isn't cupcakes. Cupcakes aside, you're telling me it's OK not to make them rainbow cookies because of who they love? We must have different Gods because my God doesn't reward people for discrimination. Hey, I have a good idea. Let's put all the gays in an island. Let's segregate the coloreds and revoke the voting rights of women folk. Has anyone out there heard of a little document called the Constitution of the United Stated of America? I don't care who anyone loves. I'll take love over hate any day.]

[If you are a business owner and you make a political statement of any kind the people who disagree with that statement will likely attack you in some way and it will affect your business. If they’d stuck with “We don’t make cupcakes” this would’t be a big deal. Sure, they have the freedom to express their values, but to think it won’t have an effect on your business in 2010 when you make such a political statement to a camera crew? Really?
If I, as the owner of a cupcake business, speak out against – let’s just say Christianity for the purpose of this discussion – do you really believe that anyone who considers him/herself to be a Christian would patronize my bakery? Doubtful. In fact, I’d bet that someone would make just as big of a deal about it as this is being made out to be.]

[People make mountains out of mole hills all.the.time.
When does it stop? As you can probably guess - I am not against a gay lifestyle - to each their own I say. If you are doing something that doesn't hurt me or my family - why should I be bothered by it?
I'm much more concerned with crimes that take place all around us, every single day...I worry about that...not about who someone chooses to love..]

[If you're going to make a business choice based on a political or religious issue and then make it known to the public that your actions were based on your beliefs you should expect that people with the opposite beliefs aren't going to support you.
You don't support them.. why should they come to you and spend their money or recommend you to their friends?
I think that business practices should be kept separate from beliefs and that people should not be denied services based on their lifestyles. If a business owner wants to do this, then they should be prepared to lose any customers with different beliefs.]

[OK, if it were me, I'd not do business with them any longer. I am the mom of a gay son, and well, why it may not be my choice for him, it is HIS choice. I support him no matter what. So if a business was not 'gay friendly' for whatever reason, I'd no longer go there. I would NOT do mean things, I would just no longer give them my business.]

[I'm a Christian and I'm so tired of all the HATE...it's very waring and so contradictory. God tells us not to judge others...that's his job....I hate it when Christians feel they need to speak for others like we are all like-minded.
Speak with kindness and treat your neighbor as you would yourself.
Look at what just happened at Rutgers...that poor boy...that was a PERSON and some one's son. A son of God also.]

[I was raised as catholic but thankfully I didn't take for granted what was taught to me,I could see too much hypocrisy and I arrived at the point that I hate the concept of "religion"(any of them) just because what they do is "spread words of love, but just for those who are like you",and if you (think or live)in a different way, you have no right (to eat? to love? to choose?to live?), so I obviously disagree with the reason of the refusal. I don't care about the sexual life of anybody, as long as that doesn't bother me.They shouldn't have given this reason, but of course I do think that the bakers had the freedom and the right to choose or not the order, just, they missed a bit of sensibility with the answer.(what if someone tells you they won't sell you something just because you are Christian!!)And about those "impressionable daughters", they had a good lessons on how to discriminate.]

[hmmm. i am a Christian and i belong to a church who embraces the gay community and performs gay marriages. we believe in including everyone and providing a place of worship for everyone, including people who are gay. a rainbow is a rainbow, and it's a positive symbol for Christians and gays alike. can't Christians just accept and love everyone? (instead of saying 'I'm not making rainbow cupcakes for you GAY people and your coming out day.') i thought loving and accepting is what we were supposed to do as Christians.]


So anywho.. this ended up being way longer than I thought.. but this is my final opinion on the subject:


I think that it was completely rude of the company to do this. I get that they don't make cupcakes, but they could have suggested cookies.. Yes, they have a right to have an opinion. But they went about it the wrong way. No wonder they are getting such bad publicity! If they refused this just because it was for a "gay" event, they are gonna get a lot of bad comments. If they had gone through with it, they could have got a lot of new customers and free publicity! And now.. because of their reason to deny it, they are losing business. Since I support Gay Pride, I wouldn't go to that store or suggest it to anybody I know.. They could have gone about it in a totally different way. Yes, they get an opinion but you need to think about what you're saying when you own a business. I personally think that your own opinion should stay out of your business unless you want a big controversy like this.. It could just put you out of business.. And as for all those people who are "christians", I'm not bashing your religion, but aren't you supposed to accept everybody for who they are and not hate or judge people just because they are different than you?? I know that some people in all religions are so close minded. But that doesn't mean that all people in the religion are.. I don't hate christians or Mormons or catholics. I don't care if people gay, straight, white, black, or purple. My mom raised me to accept all people JUST THE WAY THEY ARE! Yes, I hate some people but that's because they are jerks,(I haven't gotten to the whole "forgiving" stage yet) but it's not because of their race or sexuality. Why can't we just let people live their lives? We shouldn't hate people because of who they love. This isn't the 1400s. Women now have a right to vote now, gay people should have the right to get married!! I know a lot of gay couples that have been together for as long as I can remember. Why don't they have the right to get married and treasure it? Some straight people get married and then divorced a year later.. Why wouldn't we let the people who would actually appreciate the right, get married? Makes no sense to me.. Also, for the business, I don't think you should going around saying that their food tastes horrible or anything. That's not even relevant. But if you're like me, you just won't support them or suggest it to people. It's that easy! :)

*** I commented on the post with my opinion and pretty much said what I said in the last paragraph there. And this is the email I got in return from the lady who runs the blog...
Hi Shantel,
I am a "Christian" and as a "Christian" we are to love and honor and obey God. That includes loving our fellow man. However, as a "Christian" you are not to condone sin. I believe in the Bible above all, and the Bible declares homosexuality to be a sin. (among many other things!)
Sin separates us from God. Therefore, I am not going to rejoice in anyone choosing sin over a relationship with God! It would be my ultimate goal for everyone to experience the joy and bliss of truly being a relationship with Jesus and knowing the peace that only His love can bring. :)

Have a blessed day-
Amanda ***

Well thanks for reading. If you got offended.. Don't' say I didn't warn you. That's just my opinion. But I want to hear your opinion, so comment!