Should Gay Couple Sue Vermont Inn for Refusing to Host Their Reception?

As a native Vermonter and an entrepreneur I say good for them. Just because a state permits a certain practice (say, civil unions), doesn't mean they can enforce or demand privately held, non-state-owned, businesses support it. If an event, such as this one, would detract, defame, impede, reflect poorly on, disturb other patrons of, interrupt or diminish the reputation and/or business practices/beliefs (ie their ability to make profits) of the owners/stakeholders.....in other words, be bad for business, (or, say the business doesn't want to become a haven or be associated with being a haven for a particular crowd), then I would say they acted in the best interest of the business. Businesses all over the country and world can freely deny service to anyone they deem "bad for business" and many shop and small companies get concealed carry permits to ensure their ability to keep out anyone they choose. "No saggy pants", "Shirts & Shoes Required", "No political shirts", "NO Irish Need Apply", "Hippies enter through the back", "No Bikers Permitted"...all used in various parts of the world, all legit, all legal...guess what, gays are a group as well and if a business deems the gay crowd as bad for business....check this out...its called the YELLOW PAGES. Ya know how many hotels I've been rejected from because I was traveling with dogs? Did I sue? No...I went online and found a pet friendly hotel...DOH!

Just because the legislature of VT permits "Gay Marriage", doesn't mean that its a perspective held by all (esp. native Vermonters...as in, the ones who grew up and live there, not just the ones that came up from CT or NY because all of a sudden they can "marry" their partner). Its actually a point of frustration that often gets swept under the rug or pointed to as hold outs (I mean, how dare we have an opinion that differs from the group think wisdom, oh that's right...we were here first...I will remind those who take offense to this statement that VT law interprets the 2nd Amendment in a way that "Gun Control" means using both hands!).

The further you cram your gay agenda down peoples throats, esp in states that didn't ask for it (the real natives anyway), (and I know I'm going to get trolled for this)...the less welcomed you are. You're not owed anything because you identify yourself as gay and show up one day. You don't deserve a welcome mat on every door step your holy feet may tread on simply because you show up. I have uncles and cousins, parents and grandparents before them, that fought in wars defending and protecting your freedoms and ability to run your unappreciative mouths (mouths that have no clue or care what that freedom costs) that can barely afford their groceries, let alone property taxes, and they've paid into the system for more years than most of you have been alive. Yet, you show up like you own the place, stick around for 4 minutes and expect the state to just change their laws because you've bought beer at the same place more than twice.

There ought to be a clause in the law that reads "so long as both intended partners to be have graced this state with their presences for more than 15 years each"). You'd see a mass exodus right back to Provincetown or where ever the heck it was you came from to begin with, like the Phish concert was going back down 89 and leaving the street....what a glorious day that would be for Vermont!

In fact, why don't you do that, we native Vermonters, the ones with birthright claims to this majestic state, DONT WANT YOU HERE! Go back to your own states and stop driving up the economy, my parents can't even afford to retire in the state their grandparents were born, lived and died in (I myself am a 6th generation Vermonter.....forced to move south for job opportunities, because of crap like this)...you should be lucky a polite denial was all you were greeted with....most native Vermonters would have brought along their pals Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson and aimed just a smidge above that bright rainbow trail streaming from out your backside (which is coincidentally the only thing they want to see....that moving away from the state at a rate faster then it came streaming in!)...Go away, get a life and leave VT before the natives DO decide to TAKE BACK VERMONT!

http://www.glad.org/rights/ve...

Here's what it states about "Public Accommodations"

"Public Accommodations
What is a “place of public accommodation”?
A place of public accommodation means “any school, restaurant, store, establishment or other facility at which services, facilities, goods, privileges, advantages, benefits, or accommodations are offered to the general public.”13

What does the law say about discrimination in places of public accommodation?
Such places may not, on account of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or other protected characteristic, “refuse, withhold from or deny to that person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of the place of public accommodation.”14

The protections based on marital status mean that a place of public accommodation may not discriminate against parties to a civil union.15

There is an exception to this rule, stating that this law does not prohibit an establishment that provides lodging to transient guests (i.e. hotels, inns) with five or fewer rooms from restricting its accommodations based on sex or marital status.16

Public schools in Vermont are considered public accommodations and so students are protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. See the section on Students’ Rights for further information about the rights and protections for public school students."



The Wildflower Inn does not qualify for the exception, as they do not have 5 or fewer rooms. So, according to the law, the inn cannot deny them the use of their facilities or accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.