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Madsen, florist wrong
Sue Lani Madsen’s Feb. 18 column, “Richland florist ruling doesn’t respect differences,” states, “This was not about discriminating against individuals because of who they are, it was about not participating in an event they were planning.”
According to the column, the florist considered the two longtime customers to be friends. The men, being longtime customers surely ordered for many other events, such as Mother’s Day, birthdays, funerals and graduations. But when seeking flowers for their wedding, the florist declined to provide service.
Why decline for this event? Making a public lifetime commitment to another person in front of friends and family tells the world something about who we are. Which is precisely why they were denied service for this event and not others. The florist did not want to participate in an event that celebrated that part of who these men are. That is discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
It sounds like Madsen thinks sexual orientation is a choice and not part of who these men are. Will we soon see a health column by an author who believes ulcers are caused by stress and a science column espousing geocentrism?
Christopher Cary
Liberty Lake