Bakery Denies Cookies To A Gay Student Group

A bakery in Indianapolis is getting criticism for discriminating against customers. The Just Cookies bakery refused to accept an order from a gay student group. The Indiana University- Purdue University gay student group placed an order for cookies and cupcakes from the bakery that is located in City Market.

The request was refused by the bakery because it violated the values of their business. So, what kind of horribly profane and vulgar baked goods were the group looking for? Rainbow cupcakes and cookies to celebrate National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. Just baked goods. They weren't asking to petition, for approval or any sort of validation of their lifestyle. They just wanted to order sugary treats. According to the bakery owner:

So, ordering cookies and cupcakes violate the business's values. As a bakery, I would think that the main value their business has is to sell lots of sugary treats. The issue still is that privately owned businesses have the right to deny service to anyone for any reason. While it may be a terrible business decision that will label the establishment as bigoted and garner ill-will within the college community it is located in, it is still their right. When we embrace diversity, it has to include those who don't think like we do. Even when we think that our view is the right one, and we feel that we have facts and a justification for our view. And that is true, no matter which side you are on.

While I support the right to deny service to anyone, I wonder what would happen if a business denied service to people with foreign last names, or won't take orders from anyone whose skin is darker than cafe au lait. At what point does a business owner's right to deny service end? I am not sure of the answer, but I think that it is all part of a much bigger issue.

In order to be successful in a sales type business, people have to be willing to not take everything personally. You may have clients who have lifestyles, religions or cultures that you may not participate in, support or in any way be affiliated with, but you still want to make the sale. Customers don't have colors or religions, they just have needs that can be met by purchasing your products.

The bottom line is that selling products or services to people it is more important than ever to be an equal opportunity salesperson. A large part of finding success as a salesperson is building relationships with customers and getting those same customers to tell their friends and family to buy products from you. You can't do this by limiting the types of people you are willing to sell to.

What do you think? Do you think that businesses have the right to deny service to anyone they don't agree with, or do you think that there is an obligation to be as equal opportunity as possible?

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