re: Mississippi gov. signs law allowing service denial to gays

quote:

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A private business owner should be able to deny service to whoever they want for whatever reason they want. Mississippi shouldn't have to pass a law to ensure this.

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And Katzenbach v. McClung holds that discrimination of this type burdens interstate commerce and is within the purview of the federal government's regulation.


ETA: I should add that this case specifically ruled on the issue of racial discrimination. Though sexual-orientation doesn't fall into the same class as race, it is a quasi-protected class and likely will be on par with gender and race in the next few years.

However, the Katzenbach, the diner owners had no leg to stand on for their discrimination, there is no federally protected right to deny service to people. However, in the case of Mississippi (or Colorado bakeries), the first amendment might give the homophobes a shot at keeping the law in effect--I.e. Their first amendment rights will have to be weighed against the equal protection or privilege and immunities rights of the same sex couples they discriminate against.