Editorial: Put gay service policy in writing

We're not exactly sure where freedom of religion ends and freedom from religion begins.

We don't feel completely comfortable in trying to determine precisely where Businessperson A's rights end and Customer G's begin.

But we do believe in basic business principles, and we have an idea that might help states like Idaho and Arizona as they tussle over proposed laws involving religion and discrimination.

Any state that decides, based solely on religious grounds, to allow business practitioners to discriminate against potential customers who seem to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or sexually enamored of something other than a heterosexual male or female adult human: Put it in writing. A pizza shop in Tucson, for instance, displayed signs this week stating, "We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators."

What we're recommending is similar, but a little different. Every proprietor who is inclined to refuse service to someone based on that someone's perceived sexual orientation - and the proprietor's deeply held religious beliefs, of course - could be required to post a prominent, legible sign on every door into that business.

Individual states could establish uniform, approved verbiage, but just to promote discussion and consideration, here's how one might read:

As devout [religion's name here], we refuse to serve anyone whose sexual preference is an affront to us and/or an abomination to [religion, spiritual leader or supreme being here].

These signs would clearly inform like-minded, similarly spiritual patrons that they are most welcome in the establishment, and business just might flourish. At the same time, they would fend off suspected deviants and their sympathizers, who would be forced to invest their money with a friendly competitor.

We don't serve your kind here is shorter and might save a little in signage costs, but its openness to interpretation could make it an insufficient instrument for conscientious lawmakers and proprietors.