Properly say NO to same sex marriage?

At this point Supreme Court has said we can't ban same sex marriage...

If I say I only to "traditional" weddings. is that against the law? or even state that "men and women" weddings for terms and conditions....

There have been several cases lately where service providers have said no and gotten sued. I suspect that discriminating for whatever reason is going to open you up to problems.

BTW, I believe that the SCOTUS ruling only applied to government agencies and not private individuals.

Refusal to provide professional services to a specific customer is within your right...you can be subject to such exclusion from service in a restaurant, if not based upon religious or racial exclusion, for example. You can find another restaurant.

Similarly, the Supreme Court ruling has nothing to do with individual religious groups' practices continuing to NOT perform same-gender unions; they can to get a civil ceremony rather than religious one, or go find a different religion.

The Supreme Court decision is that according to the 14th amendment, STATES must license gay unions and recognize those unions officially recognized by other states.

You need to be extremely careful. A lot rides on what your states anti-discrimination law says. As a business you are generally obliged to serve the public without discrimination. That doesn't mean you have to serve ecery member of the public, but that you cant decline based on the individual ( or couples) membership in a protected class such as race, or religion. Some states include sexual preference as a protected class, others do not. So far the courts are trending toward inclusion , making your desired plan a pretty risky strategy. A few states are attempting to pass religious freedom laws but its not clear whether they can Trump anti discrimination laws. It would be a lot simpler for you to get on the right side of history and simply take their miney and do the job. Taking the photos doesnt mean you "participate" in their wedding or endorse it. You simply provide a service to a client.

Your grandchildren will find this post one day and be embarrassed. Good luck with your business strategy.

I imagine it will go over about as well as saying you will only do "white couples" weddings....

gonzogolf wrote in post #17614418
It would be a lot simpler for you to get on the right side of history and simply take their money and do the job. Taking the photos doesn't mean you "participate" in their wedding or endorse it.

That sounds a lot like compromising/betraying your moral and religious beliefs based on shifting social values, norms, and customs. Doesn't matter what the topic is... gay marriage, abortion, embracing socialism, or throwing Jews and homosexuals into concentration camps.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17614418
... take their money and do the job. Taking the photos doesn't mean you "participate" in their wedding or endorse it.

Some people would argue that that's exactly what it means. You're profiting off of something you take to be immoral and an abomination. Again, it doesn't really matter what the topic is.

You would really need to thinking about your reasoning behind wanting to say no to same sex marriage.

Would you be willing to say no to photographing a same sex marriage if it meant that you couldn't eat or pay a bill?

Would you be willing to lose business because potential clients see you only do certain types of weddings and their brother, sister, cousin, aunt or uncle are LGBT?

Yes you should believe in your personal beliefs but in a business aspect, it would be a bad business decision/model. Would you want someone to tell you they can't help you celebrate the happiest day in your life because of how you live your life?

Gets Popcorn...

Does a Jewish or Catholic photographer refuse to shoot the wedding of a Baptist, a LDS, or a Buddhist?

Should a Catholic school teacher refuse to teach the child who has two same-gender parents?

Would any of it be practicing good business to turn down the opportunity to make money in behalf of one's employer (especially when one is SELF employed)?

jcook0415 wrote in post #17614483
You would really need to thinking about your reasoning behind wanting to say no to same sex marriage.

Would you be willing to say no to photographing a same sex marriage if it meant that you couldn't eat or pay a bill?

Would you be willing to lose business because potential clients see you only do certain types of weddings and their brother, sister, cousin, aunt or uncle are LGBT?

Yes you should believe in your personal beliefs but in a business aspect, it would be a bad business decision/model. Would you want someone to tell you they can't help you celebrate the happiest day in your life because of how you live your life?

That is a personal decision and one some folks are ready to take, their belief is so strong. I believe that the bakery that ignited much of the debate opted to close their doors.

You could just say "Let me check my schedule. I'm sorry but I am booked that day." Or say you are unavailable.

Not saying that you SHOULD turn them down. I recently shot a gay wedding and hopefully will shoot many more. BUT... I will confess that when I do the initial phone interview, I am also interviewing them. I don't say what my availability is right away. I just ask what they are looking for and explain how I do things and that I will have to check my availability. If I get a bad vibe, I just tell them I'm booked or that I have some family thing or w/e.

BlakeC wrote in post #17614504
You could just say "Let me check my schedule. I'm sorry but I am booked that day." Or say you are unavailable.

Not saying that you SHOULD turn them down. I recently shot a gay wedding and hopefully will shoot many more. BUT... I will confess that when I do the initial phone interview, I am also interviewing them. I don't say what my availability is right away. I just ask what they are looking for and explain how I do things and that I will have to check my availability. If I get a bad vibe, I just tell them I'm booked or that I have some family thing or w/e.

I'm trying to find the reference but I believe that is how one of the early cases got in trouble. The couple came in, were turned down, another couple came in and were not. If anyone remembers, please post as I can't seem to find the story. Can't remember if it was a photographer of cake maker.

edit: maybe it was florist.

gjl711 wrote in post #17614513
I'm trying to find the reference but I believe that is how one of the early cases got in trouble. The couple came in, were turned down, another couple came in and were not. If anyone remembers, please post as I can't seem to find the story. Can't remember if it was a photographer of cake maker.

edit: maybe it was florist.

That's just how I would do it if I were going to. I don't discriminate, but it get's a little serious when you do. And I have heard of people getting in trouble for it. Even if it doesn't stick, you will def lose business from the bad word about you.
I have dropped people from my schedule due to not paying a deposit though. The bad vibe I am referring to, is when I get the vibe that they are not going to pay me. They start trying to haggle prices, ask if they can pay later, etc, etc.

Honestly I could care less who marries who or what for that matter! It just blows my mind that people no longer have the right to refuse business based on race, religion, sexual preference, age, social status, etc... Its a free market if someone doesn't want to take your business there will be ten others that would be more than happy to do it!

I think the world is inventing itself a new form of government. Its called popular opinionism