From the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader:

Popular Lexington T-shirt printer Hands On Originals has triggered a wave of criticism after telling organizers of Lexington’s annual gay pride festival that it would not produce apparel for the event because Hands On is a Christian company.

On Monday, the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington, which organizes the June festival, filed a discrimination complaint with the city’s Human Rights Commission.

An owner of the company, Blaine Adamson issued the following statement:

"Hands On Originals both employs and conducts business with people of all genders, races, religions, sexual preferences and national origins. However, due to the promotional nature of our products, it is the prerogative of the company to refuse any order that would endorse positions that conflict with the convictions of the ownership."

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission, Executive Director Raymond Sexton responded with this observation:

"If you have other organizations using their services and they’ve made T-shirts for them, and this organization is not allowed and the only difference is sexual orientation, that could be problematic."

"Religious exemption is a valid defense under the local ordinance, but it’s typically reserved for churches. If you’re Hands On Originals, you’re a business, not a religious organization. You’re into T-shirts."

Read more here: “Hands On Originals T-shirt company accused of discrimination”

Response: The Christian owners of the Hands On Originals T-shirt company did not want to be involved in promoting a Gay Pride event which was contrary to their conservative Christian beliefs.

Now a ‘discrimination’ complaint has been lodged against them along with a boycott and negative PR that could well affect the future of their business. Not only that, they may be subject to paying out ‘compensatory damages’ to the gay sponsors if an investigation into the incident by the Human Rights Commission goes against them. After reading the statement made Commission Director Sexton it seems likely that action will be taken against the company and it’s Christian owners.

This is a local matter but it is an example of what Christian businesses may be facing all across the nation in the future. Discrimination laws in America used to be about race, color, gender, and religion but sexual orientation/identity has now been added to the mix. This will not be the last Christian business to be affected by the newly expanded discrimination laws in this country.

Culture and public opinion is now going against traditional Christian views on homosexuality. The fact that many mainline churches have followed the culture and left behind traditional Biblical teaching also affects the public perception in this case. Notice the statement quoted in the article which questions what Christianity has to do with the owners stance since many involved in the Gay Pride event also claim to be Christians.

The fact is, the nation and culture is changing and quickly leaving the Judeo-Christian foundations that made it great. Only a major national revival could reverse the current secular trends and bring America back to its Christian roots. As it stands now, traditional Christian beliefs are increasingly viewed as an ‘evil’ that is standing in the way of progress. In this case, LGBT rights trump the religious freedom and convictions of the Christian business owners.           *Top

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