Local business owners react to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Act
Legislators are now working to fix Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Act that sparked outrage across the country. The governor of Arkansas is also calling for change before he signs any similar bills in his state.
This follows discrimination concerns that are echoed by business owners in the Coachella Valley.
“It’s wrong. That isn’t an open ended policy for businesses to mistreat other people,” said Sherman’s Deli General Manager Gordon Poster.
The politicians who wrote Indiana’s law wanted to protect business owners’ from being forced to provide a service against their religion. However, because the state doesn’t have an anti-discrimination law protecting sexual orientation, like California, some fear gay and lesbian customers would be turned away.
“I can see both sides, but if you are in business, you are in business to have a thriving business. Why would you want to discriminate against anybody?” said Poster.
What about a business’s right to refuse service?
“I think any store owner has a right if they really feel they have a reason for it. Whether it’s a concern or inappropriate behavior by any customer, we have a right to refuse service, to ask them to leave their own facility,” said Jus Chillin’ Frozen Desserts owner Jim Schreiber.
But Schreiber, a member of the LGBT community himself, says he doesn’t make that decision before someone walks through the door.
“We are uncomfortable with that person, not that group of people,” said Schreiber.
“If someone is disruptive in the restaurant or annoying another customer, it basically allows us that right and we tell everybody, we don’t want that kind of influence within the restaurant. It’s never been intended to discriminate against anybody,” said Poster.
Both Sherman’s Deli and Jus Chillin’ don’t post a “Right to Refuse Service” sign. We only found one posted, at Mr. G’s Toys and Expression’s. The store manager told us it has been invoked, for unruly or drunk individuals.
“We are in the hospitality industry, we are not in the abusive industry. We do want to take care of everybody,” said Poster.
“Everybody has a right to believe what they want to believe, but it’s a different world than it was 40 years ago,” said Schreiber.
On Friday, Cathedral City leaders are expected to sign a proclamation denouncing discriminatory actions by governments, like Indiana’s law. It will mark the start of the city’s LGBT days.
