A court ruling and religious rights

This letter is in response to The Daily Herald's news article of July 1 on the Supreme Court ruling for a designer who doesn't want to make wedding websites for gay couples.

It was stated that "The decision is a win for religious rights and one in a series of cases in recent years in which the justices have sided with religious plaintiffs."

Whose religious rights? Not mine. Not millions of others. Contrarily, it is license for a particular religion to openly discriminate at the expense of the religious beliefs of others.

I am a Christian and a member of the United Church of Christ. Our congregation is an open and affirming one where all are welcome equitably. We believe that all people are created in God's image, including those in the LGBT community. Our members and clergy include gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and everything in between.

I own a barbershop and have done many wedding haircuts for gay men. I am proud to have a diverse clientele of all colors and political stripes. As a Christian and member of a denomination that fully accepts and celebrates the LGBT community equitably, should I now openly discriminate against people who believe gay folks are evil sinners? One standard should apply to all even handedly, should it not?

The thing is, even though I theoretically could do that now according to the new law, I would not. Why? Two reasons, one being that it's just a poor way to run a business. But most importantly of all: It's just not what Jesus Christ would do.

Louis S. Guagenti

Arlington Heights