Summary
In Adebayo’s article for the CNN News, it is discussed how a South African wedding venue owned by Christians has refused to host a wedding for a lesbian couple. Both Megan Watling and Sasha-Lee Heekes wanted to schedule a date for their wedding, but instead the couple received an email stating, “the venue does not accommodate between couples of the same gender” (Adebayo, 2020). The young couple did not expect this response as it is 2020 and were “overwhelmed with anger” by it as well. Because the owners of the venue were Christian, they claimed they weren’t homophobic, but because of their religion, they believed one man and one woman should get married to one another. Watling and Heekes don’t believe that their God “would stand for said hate and bigotry” and that they “deserve to be treated with dignity and respect” (Adebayo, 2020). To take matters into their own hands, the couple filed a complaint to the South Africa Human Rights Commission who will take further notice on this issue. In like manner, this is not the first time that this wedding venue declined service to same-sex couples, as there was another incident with a lesbian couple in 2017. When being criticized, the owners of the venue repeatedly state that their policy is based on how their Christian belief only permits heterosexual relationships and marriages (Adebayo, 2020). Overall, the lesbian couple’s experience demonstrates struggles that same-sex couples face.
Sociological Reflection
Based on public attitudes about sexual orientation, it makes sense as to why the Christian owners of the wedding venue were opposed to providing service to same-sex couples and would only accept heterosexual couples. This is because “religious people are considerably more heterosexist than less religious people” (Galta, Chapter 5 Lecture, 2020). But despite their beliefs that only heterosexual couples should be married, their religion does not need to restrict them from providing for same-sex couples. The owners aren’t able to comprehend that they are still able to provide service for those who are homosexual and it won’t interfere with their faith. This being said, this is why “65% of LGBT individuals experience discrimination in their daily lives” (Galta, Chapter 5 Lecture, 2020). Due to the lesbian couple’s sexual orientation, the owners of the wedding venue were unjustly treating the young couple just because they were both female. Inequality among same-sex couples is also demonstrated because the owners have denied service for the lesbian couple, but if it were a heterosexual couple then they would have gladly accepted them. In addition, the owner’s belief that they will serve heterosexual couples due to their religion presents heterosexual privilege. Overall, it is a serious matter that the LGBT community are discriminated for who they are, but such discrimination can be reduced by not treating homosexuals differently than how we would treat heterosexuals.
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https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/africa/south-africa-lesbian-couple-wedding-venue/index.html
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