As you have probably heard, the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of a Christian baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex couple. This is a victory for religious freedom advocates; however, it is a loss for LGBTQ+ equality.

This ruling essentially allows for discrimination on religious grounds. This is a slippery slope. Once one type of discrimination is allowed, what else is acceptable? What if the couple whose cake is in question was an interracial couple? Would a baker be allowed to refuse service to them on religious grounds? The repercussions of this ruling truly could propel us backwards as a society.

I have already seen negative repercussions of this ruling. I recently read an article about a Tennessee store owner who put up a "No gays allowed" sign in front of his store after the ruling. This man felt that due to this supreme court decision, it was acceptable for him to refuse service to someone because he didn't agree with their lifestyle.

This is now becoming the new normal.

The people who are rejoicing over this ruling likely wouldn't be so happy if the tables were turned. If a Christian baker can refuse service to a gay couple on religious grounds, couldn't a Muslim person refuse service to a Christian person?

If that did happen, I am sure that all the people who have been defending the baker in this situation would be crying that their rights were being trampled on. Remember, this goes both ways.

This ruling could lead to allowing any employee to refuse service to anyone. If a Muslim person is working at a grocery store, are they allowed to refuse to sell you a ham? Can a Catholic person refuse to sell you condoms? Can a Mormon employee refuse to sell you coffee?

While I understand the need for religious freedoms, there is a point where one person's freedom ends up taking away another person's. Once we get to this point, then I think that we cannot honor someone's religious freedom if it takes away someone else's freedom.

Quite honestly, I simply don't understand how baking a cake to celebrate someone else's marriage is in conflict with your religious beliefs. I understand that some people believe that being gay is a sin. That's their own opinion; which is fine to have. However, what I don't understand is how someone not involved in the marriage itself would be sinning just by providing a service for the wedding.

Personally, I think that we should all just put our personal differences aside, be kind to one another, and treat everyone the same, regardless, of their gender, race, sexual orientation, or anything else.