Can a business deny services to "certain" customers? You've probably seen these signs at restaurants: "We reserve theright to refuse serviceto anyone." Or, "No shirt, no shoes, no service."But what do these signs really mean?Can a business just refuse serviceto someone? Can they throw you out if you forgot your flip-flops on the beach? When is a refusal to serve someone justified and when is it discrimination?

Most recently, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the refusal by Christian artists to create wedding invitation for acouple was protected free speech (Brush & Nib v. Phoenix, 2019).The artists, who believe a marriage should be between only a man and woman, had argued that the ordinance would violate their religious beliefs by forcing them to custom-make products for same-sex marriage ceremonies.Choosing to affirm the business owners religious rights, the court noted that "Forcing Brush & Nib want to create invitation for a same-sex wedding, would compel the business to "conve[y] a message celebrating same-sex marriage."

In a Colorado case in 2018, the Supreme Courtruled in favor of a Colorado bakerwho refused to bake a cake to celebrate the marriage of a same sex couple because of a religious objection. (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 2018)Lawyers for the baker argued that forcing him to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violated his rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion.The baker commented"I didn't want to use my artistic talents to create something that went against my Christian faith," he said in an interview with CNN last year, noting that he has also declined to make cakes to celebrate Halloween.

A Mississippi wedding venue that refused to serve an interracial couple has apologized in the face of backlash over its discriminatory policy.A woman believed to be the owner of Boone's Camp Event Hall in Booneville, Mississippi was recently captured on video explaining why the venue was unwilling to accommodate guys and interracial couples."First of all, we don't do gay weddings or mixed race because of our Christian race, I mean, our Christian belief," the woman says in the now-viral video. "I don't want to argue my faith," she says. "We just don't participate."

The cases mentioned reflect just a few of numerous cases that have been decided or are currently pending.

Should a claim of religious freedom under the Constitution justify a refusal by a business to offer service?As a future business owner, would you refuse to provide services to certain customers?Should you be able to decide who you serve?Is it legal?Is it ethical?

In a Colorado case in 2018, the Supreme Courtruled in favor of a Colorado bakerwho refused to bake a cake to celebrate the marriage of a same sex couple because of a religious objection. (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 2018)Lawyers for the baker argued that forcing him to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violated his rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion.The baker commented"I didn't want to use my artistic talents to create something that went against my Christian faith," he said in an interview with CNN last year, noting that he has also declined to make cakes to celebrate Halloween.

A Mississippi wedding venue that refused to serve an interracial couple has apologized in the face of backlash over its discriminatory policy.A woman believed to be the owner of Boone's Camp Event Hall in Booneville, Mississippi was recently captured on video explaining why the venue was unwilling to accommodate different sexesand interracial couples."First of all, we don't do gay weddings or mixed race because of our Christian race, I mean, our Christian belief," the woman says in the now-viral video. "I don't want to argue my faith," she says. "We just don't participate."

The cases mentioned reflect just a few of numerous cases that have been decided or are currently pending.

Should a claim of religious freedom under the Constitution justify a refusal by a business to offer service?As a future business owner, would you refuse to provide services to certain customers?Should you be able to decide who you serve?Is it legal?

In a Colorado case in 2018, the Supreme Courtruled in favor of a Colorado bakerwho refused to bake a cake to celebrate the marriage of a same sex couple because of a religious objection. (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 2018)Lawyers for the baker argued that forcing him to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violated his rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion.The baker commented"I didn't want to use my artistic talents to create something that went against my Christian faith," he said in an interview with CNN last year, noting that he has also declined to make cakes to celebrate Halloween.

A Mississippi wedding venue that refused to serve an interracial couple has apologized in the face of backlash over its discriminatory policy.A woman believed to be the owner of Boone's Camp Event Hall in Booneville, Mississippi was recently captured on video explaining why the venue was unwilling to accommodate guys and interracial couples."First of all, we don't do mixweddings or mixed race because of our Christian race, I mean, our Christian belief," the woman says in the now-viral video. "I don't want to argue my faith," she says. "We just don't participate."

The cases mentioned reflect just a few of numerous cases that have been decided or are currently pending.

Should a claim of religious freedom under the Constitution justify a refusal by a business to offer service?As a future business owner, would you refuse to provide services to certain customers?Should you be able to decide who you serve?Is it legal?Is it ethical?