Apr 2, 2012
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A Lexington, KY t-shirt company is under investigation by the city’s Human Rights Commission after they refused to print t-shirts for a local gay rights organization.
The owner of “Hands On Originals,” a well-known t-shirt company in the region, declined to print the shirts for the city’s Gay and Lesbian Services Organization (GLSO) because it would conflict with their Christian convictions.
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The privately owned company is now accused of violating Lexington’s Fairness Act – which protects people and organizations from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The attacks are out of line, said Jim Campbell, an attorney with Alliance Defense Fund, the organization representing “Hands On Originals.”
Lexington Gay Pride logo
“No business owner should be forced to violate his conscience simply because someone demands it,” he said. “The Constitution absolutely supports the rights of business owners to decline a request to support a message that conflicts with their deeply held convictions.”
Raymond Sexton, the executive director of the Human Rights Commission told Fox News that “Hands On Originals” will be “required by law to participate in the investigation.”
“We have subpoena power and have the backing of the law,” he said. “We are a law enforcement agency and people have to comply.”
Should the company be found guilty of discriminating against the homosexuals Sexton said they could be subjected to fines.
“Hands On Originals” has faced a barrage of attacks since the accusations were made public. More than 2,000 people have joined a boycott movement on Facebook. Another group is trying to buy the company’s mortgage so they can be evicted.
The Fayette County public school system placed a temporary hold on buying t-shirts from the company until the issue is resolved. The University of Kentucky is also reviewing its future business with the t-shirt maker.
Even Lexington’s openly gay mayor has condemned the privately-owned t-shirt company, telling the Lexington Herald-Leader “People don’t have patience for this sort of attitude today.”
“I’m against discrimination, period,” Gray said in a statement released to television station WKYT. “It’s bad for business and bad for the city. I support the Human Rights Commission in a full and thorough investigation.”
GLSO wanted “Hands On Original” to print shirts for the city’s fifth annual Lexington Pride Festival. The store offered to find another company that would honor its price – but that wasn’t good enough for the GLSO.
“Our feeling on that is, separate but equal wasn’t okay during the civil rights movement and it’s not okay now,” Aaron Baker told the television station. Baker is board president of GLSO.
Blaine Adamson is the managing owner of “Hands on Originals.” He defended his company in an op-ed that appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader and unequivocally denied that he is guilty of discrimination.
“I decided to pass on the opportunity because, as a Christian owner, I cannot in good conscience endorse groups or events that run counter to my convictions,” Adamson wrote in the op-ed.
Adamson, who has been in business for more than 20 years, wrote that he “does not expect, or even ask, people to agree with my view.”
“All I ask for people is to respect my right as an owner to not produce a product that is contrary to my principles,” he wrote.
Adamson called on people to stand up for the rights of small business owners not “to be forced into producing a product with a message that conflicts with their beliefs and consciences.”
“Over the past 20 years, we have declined to produce several other products with different messages than the one at issue here because we disapproved of whatever message it was, and it never had anything to do with discrimination,” he wrote. “People reading this may disagree with my view on the current issue, but I hope they will join us in supporting our right to decline an order that promotes a view so contrary to our personal beliefs.”
As a result of Adamson’s stand, he’s started to lose business from public organizations.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, condemned the attacks on the t-shirt company and said Adamson has as much freedom to reject homosexuality as his customers do to endorse it.
“The Left still insists that personal morality take a backseat to its radical agenda,” Perkins said. “Whether it’s a t-shirt company, wedding photographer, or the church, homosexuals will not be satisfied until they compel us to either spread their perversion or promote it.”
Sexton told Fox News it could take up to six months to investigate the charges.
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Oh, geez…. the assclowns are at it again. Yeah, freedom of speech and religion is fine — as long as you don't offend a liberal.
Wonder what the "intolerance" level would be if Chritians wore t-sirts to this event with a message saying, 'What God has set up is what is right — Not what sinful man has set up.'. Woohoo, you want to see real hatred and persecution against an organization.
The GLSO is a hate group! They have intentionally chosen to litigate a private business into bankruptcy. They have said Hands On Originals is discriminating against them because their business has been refused. Then GLSO's response is to attempt to buy this companies lease and evict them. Evict the business through discrimination, yeah, that's smart! The queer mayor say's he's, "against any kind of discrimination, period," but his behaviour toward a tax paying business in that city suggest's otherwise. He should have swallowed instead of spitting out any comment at all on this conflict. Ray Sexton is a disgraceful bureaucrat without discernment. Being a HOMO is a moral issue not a human rights issue. I'm sick of seeing the immoral among us corrupt the language and content of the arguement of discrimination or immorality. Separate but Equal-kiss my ass! The true minorities throughout this nation should be outraged that this herd of immoral swine is derailing their legitimate concerns by hi-jacking their platform and methods. Why do they try so hard to have everyone accept what is unacceptable among decent people? My personal response to this business is to contact them right now and donate $100 to help them defeat those, who would destroy without provocation, the innocent.
Well said Emilie we all see who the real bigots and discriminators are here in the article and in this comment section…
I wonder….would a gay t shirt company refuse to print up some Sarah Palin T shirts? Bet they would but it's ok to discriminate against a conservative, patriot, law abiding, responsible, hard working, legal citizen.
This is still a free country. Go get your t's made somewhere else.
A company should have the right(and it still does, last I checked) to do business or refuse business from anyone it chooses. This is bullying by the mayor and others. Good for Hands On Originals. I hope they win this (they should), and have twice the business they had before this junk got started. The GLSO should quit being a sore loser!
I would, if I were owner, move my business out of Lexington, to a more respectful community and leave the Sodomites to their GLAD devices.
I would, if I were owner, move my business out of Lexington, to a more respectful community and leave the Sodomites to their GLAD devices.
What ever happened to a privately owned business deciding what customers it wishes to do business with? I remember signs in stores that used to say "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone". Oh wait, I forgot…private business doesn't HAVE rights. Well that explains it!
So let me get this straight. So a fast food or any other store can refuse service to anyone at any time (essentially discriminating at their own discression) but a t-shirt company cannot refuse service to someone because it goes agains their beliefs.
Bunch of Fags. Literally
Boy they are getting bold arnt they trying to bully and shove their beliefs down everyones throat.
All in all I don't see this ending well for the t-shirt company because I'm sure the injustice system will favor the homos as it seems the entire town of lexington is gay anyways. If I were the owner of the shop, id just pick up and move elsewhere.
One last thng to think about. This isnt the cities first Gay Pride crap either. Im sure the last 4 years they had their shirts made by someone else. What intised their decision to try and use this t-shirt company? Hmmmm Makes you wonder doesnt it. Maybe they found out the owner was a Christan and said hmm lets see if we can get him to print the shirts knowing darn well they probably wouldnt do it just so they could stir the pot and stir up some big scene.
Again a bunch of pathetic people.
Lastly, I have no problem with someone being gay. Its your decision and your belief, however its not mine, so dont be trying to force your way of life onto someone else that doesnt believe or feel the way you do.
Amen brother i tried to explain that to our co-worker but says I'm wrong on this issue
Ashton Roche No doubt they have an agenda they are out to bully intimiate adn silence those who ahve a differing view that is the only way they can make themselves acceptable but really they are only huring themselves. Let God be true and every man a liar!
So let me get this straight. So a fast food or any other store can refuse service to anyone at any time (essentially discriminating at their own discression) but a t-shirt company cannot refuse service to someone because it goes agains their beliefs.
Bunch of Fags. Literally
Boy they are getting bold arnt they trying to bully and shove their beliefs down everyones throat.
All in all I don't see this ending well for the t-shirt company because I'm sure the injustice system will favor the homos as it seems the entire town of lexington is gay anyways. If I were the owner of the shop, id just pick up and move elsewhere.
What is missing here from some of the analysis is a realization that the business owner is NOT refusing to serve gays, or preventing them, or any other group, from entering his business and transacting business. I'm sure he would sell them any number of T-shirts, with various kinds of messages printed thereon. If he refused to do business with them at all, then perhaps the Fairness Act would apply. What he is instead doing is refusing to print a message with which he disagrees. Why doesn't he have the right to do that? On this very forum, we all are entitled to our own opinions, and are not required to endorse anyone else's opinion. Something is wrong when the City of Lexington requires that any and all business owners be required to endorse whatever opinions that the City thinks are the best.
Unless government gives them some sort of subsidy given this business they have the right to refuse. Newespapers have censured thei ads forever, it is called "Editorial Judgement".
oh-noes! The gays are coming to your town to indoctrinate all your children and make them all queer! LOL! This site is hysterical! Thanks Todd Starnes, for providing us with the best comedic website ever.
I would say go find another T-shirt company. Although you could argue if it had been blacks, Hispanics or anyone else who had been refused, would there have been a bigger deal made about it? But with this group, maybe it's cheaper to get the shirts made there…Idk. I can't speculate. But I would just take my business elsewhere.
Another example of INTOLERANCE by the gay community. The gays think they can promote homosexuallity but no one should be allowed their rights. The act of attempting to buy the mortgage shows how VINDICTIVE the gays can be as well. Yeah….what a great bunch to be associated with.
Btw – the human rights laws in Lexington are UNconstitutional. They were created for the gay community to allow the gays to BULLY individuals and businesses into extorted acceptance of gays.
No one said it was homosexuals trying to buy the mortgage. It simply states "another group." Also they have the FRC coming out to support them (the T-shirt shop)? Yeah Family Research Council – a hate group – what a "great bunch" to be associated with as well.
This country was founded on the principle that contracts should be FREELY entered into by both parties. Compelling one of the parties to provide goods or services (with or without compensation) is SLAVERY!
Oh, for goodness sake. Why is this being argued on the basis of "rights" or "faith"? Both are inflammatory and neither actually apply. It's getting the government involved that's the problem – this is overapplication of an otherwise needed regulation. That sort of anti-discrimination legislation exists for cases when there's no competitors out there or when it's so all-pervasive that there *is* no viable competition – and that's certainly not the case here; that's obvious in the "we'll outsource it to the competition" offer!
Frankly, if there's to be any sort of penalty to Hands On Originals, it should come from the marketplace – GLSO ought to be happy with just publicizing "hey, these guys refused to print our T-shirts 'cause we're a gay rights org" and hoping that their regular business suffers as a result (I certainly would hesitate to go there as a result). Getting the government involved is petty and unnecessary, and they should be ashamed.
It's interesting that the Left is so desperate for validation of their beliefs that they have stooped to extorting people to endorse their causes. How sad and pathetic that even this gay mayor is so uncomfortable in his beliefs that he can't do his job as a leader of his community in the United States and stand up for the rights of the people, instead he's too concerned with promoting his sexual preferences than doing the right thing and allowing this company it's right to refuse to do business. I feel very sorry for the people living in this town that they have leaders that put their own ridiculous personal agendas ahead of the people they represent.
It's interesting that the Left is so desperate for validation of their beliefs that they have stooped to extorting people to endorse their causes. How sad and pathetic that even this gay mayor is so uncomfortable in his beliefs that he can't do his job as a leader of his community in the United States and stand up for the rights of the people, instead he's too concerned with promoting his sexual preferences than doing the right thing and allowing this company it's right to refuse to do business. I feel very sorry for the people living in this town that they have leaders that put their own ridiculous personal agendas ahead of the people they represent.
Just take your business elsewhere, but to publically Hurt someone's business because they dont believe as you, is rather hypocritical to say the least.
Why would they refuse to print their shirts anyway?
That's an absurd and biased notion.
I'm siding with the gays on this one.
Roy, i will ask, would you feel the same if it was a christian who went to a gay business and they refused?
Of course I would. Why should they refuse service to anyone?
They're in the printing business, not the opinion business.
What if it included a text in the bible about homosexuality being wrong?
Roy, you think huffington post is unbiased? Please.
No one should be forced to go against their beliefs. That being said, i would not refuse service, then again, i am special that way!
Does the Human Rights Commission of Lexington want to make Hands On Originals produce Tee Shirts promoting polygamy? Child abuse? Incest? Why not?
I think there is an important distinction between discrimination against the person and discrimination against making certain products. Nothing indicates that this business refuses to hire or do printing for homosexuals. If I (a heterosexual) were to ask them to print these t-shirts, I'm sure they would refuse as well. The discrimination is against the product, not the customer.
I don't like the decision of this business, but I don't see getting worked up over it. I think we should focus our energy on things that matter (marriage equality, anti-bullying, etc.).
If a gay owner of a t-shirt shop refused to make Christian t-shirts, would it be discrimination too?
This blog is filled with hillbilly backwoods inbred pig f-uckrz. starting with Karen Kreilick witlock and her supporters. That is all.
Faux news readers… you are all re re re tarded.
Christian nuts… your god is dead. Capitalism is the new god.
Love Christ… but hate Christians… alll of you hate filled apes.
This is for you Christians that say you have a right to discriminate against people because of your beliefs. I'm posting this one here because there is just too much ignorance on this page for me to reply to every single comment. The Civil Rights act of 1964, specifically Title VII.
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm
Read section 702 of said Act and get back to us about discrimination. And by the way, the CRA has noting to do with this article since it deals with EMPLOYMENT. But please, keep throwing them right over the plate.
ANY business has the right to not do business with ANY consumer for ANY reason just as the consumer has the right not to buy ANY product from ANY company for ANY reason. The marxist democrats want to force you buy government health insurance. You can't have it both ways libturds. GEEZ!
ANY business has the right to not do business with ANY consumer for ANY reason just as the consumer has the right not to buy ANY product from ANY company for ANY reason. The marxist democrats want to force you buy government health insurance. You can't have it both ways libturds. GEEZ!
At what point does a publicly operated business producing a legal, customer requested product "endorse" said customer's product (or message)? This refusal seems like an attempt to demonstrate the owner's personal religious beliefs and impose them on those who come into his publicly operated business…are we not also protected from having the religious beliefs of others thrust upon us in the public square?
Free Publicity For " The False Pride Parade ".
What happend to the right to refuse service?
There is no law which says you have to do business with anyone for any reason. It's still a free country even though the current gov. wants to "change" that. They should have simply told them that they couln't get them done by the required date and let them hunt elsewhere for someone to make them.
If the Human Rights Commission can force a business to sell something like a f—-packer tee-shirt, why, what can stop them from forcing me to buy healthcare insurance I don't want?
How about charging $1000.00 per shirt?
Funny how this article has no mention of the notarized and bonded bid nor signed contract executed by the company involved. You would think they would have read the specs before bidding or read the contract before signing. I guess it is Christian not to honor your contracts.
What if the tide was changed and an atheist group or a homo group was asked to print a bible scripture on a t-shirt for a christian organization that condemned there lifestyle. Do you think this would be even an issue on a world wide news broadcast? Or on a regional level? No it would not…
Double standard only applies to the Liberal, Pinko, Commi, Fags that indoctrinate our young and ignorant!
Would these homosexual bullies be doing this if the company refused to print t-shirts with swastikas for a neo-nazi group? Yet, these militant gays are marching in their lavender jackboots, raising their pink truncheons trying to beat down anyone who dares to disagree with their sick and perverted lifestyle.
The mayor is against discrimination , yet is willing to discriminate against this private company…. interesting
right to refuse service… seem to remember seeing that hang in just about every store,
re: "Sexton told Fox News it could take up to six months to investigate the charges."
No problem, just cut back on streets, sewage and schools.
anyone up for a straight pride parade?
I genuinely require, understanding!