Returning to the topic of sexual orientation.

2014 has brought a whole series of changes in the dynamics of the debate on homosexuality - particularly in the area of civil marriage.   Just in the last few weeks, federal district courts in Utah and Oklahoma have struck down those states' bans on single-sex marriages.  Per media reports, these opinions held that the bans violated the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of Equal Protection and Due Process.

Andrew Sullivan noted these remarkable changes on his blog:  http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/03/12/the-massive-marriage-equality-generation-gap/

I think Sullivan was quite astute when he stated:  "But when people resolve the struggle between theory and the human person – and it’s only resolved by embracing the whole person, including her sexual orientation – the denial of equality can seem increasingly outrageous. No straight person would ever acquiesce to the idea that he or she does not have a right to marry. Such a denial seems redolent only of slavery’s evil treatment of African-Americans. And who can really demand that another human being never experience love, commitment and intimacy? And so, over time, the country is sorting itself into two camps: most everyone in one camp, and older, white evangelicals – who have often never met a gay person – in the other."

In reaction to those opinions and the general societal trend they represent,  some states (notably Arizona) started considering laws that would allow businesses to refuse to serve gay couples, if the refusal came from sincere religious belief.  . . .  But this hasn't caught on (at least yet) as a legitimate form of putting religious belief into practice.

It seems counterintuitive to me personally that I should (assuming I offer services to the public) be allowed to pick and choose my customers based on religious belief that has nothing to do with the services I offer.   Should I as a baker be allowed to refuse to bake a cake for those of whom I disapprove on religious grounds?  So, for example, if I devoutly believe marriage outside one's one faith is an abomination, should I be allowed to refuse to make a cake when a Lutheran is marrying a Ukrainian Orthodox?   What about if I think interracial marriage is sinful - should I be allowed to refuse to make a cake for an interracial couple?  . . .  I have specifically avoided gender here, because I think putting it in terms of other possibly-sincere religious beliefs more clearly shows why this particular approach has not acquired much traction.

I am interested in how these trends - increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage and rearguard action against this increasing acceptance - will play out over the next couple years.