A local floral shop in Belle Meade, Tennessee has declined services for a conservative event taking place in the state and is encouraging other local businesses to do the same.
Several notable conservatives will be in Nashville for an event this week, and needless to say, there will be no celebratory floral arrangements from local florist shop FLWR.
The shop, owned by Alex Vaughan and Quinn Kiesow, refused to fulfill an order for the conservative gathering because the “speakers listed are beyond our comfort level.” They blamed conservatives’ lack of gun control endorsement for the recent shooting that occurred in the state.
Any business should have the right to refuse service, but let’s hope FLWR gets the Bud Light treatment.
Sometimes we don’t need laws or regulations to effectuate change. When Bud Light put transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney on its beer can, we saw consumers react by refusing to purchase the product — resulting in billions of market value loss. This is free-market, consumer-driven change and it sends a clear message. FLWR sent a clear message as well: we do not support conservatives and we wrongly blame them for tragedies.
Whether it’s instances like this, or the ongoing saga of bakeries with religious owners who refuse to make specialty cakes for the wedding of same-sex couples, many debate to what extent businesses should be allowed to refuse service.
Let’s start with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This title prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. But this protection has been broadened to extend to pregnancy and sexual orientation. Although a baker may not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, the baker’s personal religious beliefs can be taken into consideration, according to the United States Supreme Court.
Conversely, political views are not protected under Title VII. These cases also differ because FLWR rejected an organized group where as the baker’s decision impacted an individual.
Regardless of arguing the litigation of the matter or comparing or contrasting the cases, conservatives should make their voice heard by using the free market. When we as conservatives are attacked by businesses for our ideological values, we should end all transactions and seek out businesses that align more closely with our beliefs.
