Michigan nail salon refuses service to transgender individuals following Supreme Court decision.

The Nail Salon Owner Who Refuses Service to Transgender Customers

The owner of a nail salon in Traverse City, Michigan, has sparked controversy by vowing to deny service to transgender customers. Christine Geiger, owner of Studio 8 Hair Lab, cited her First Amendment rights as the basis for her decision, following a recent Supreme Court ruling on denying service to LGBT clients.

“If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer,” Geiger wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post. “You are not welcome at this salon. Period. Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please note we may simply refer to you as ‘hey you.'”

Supreme Court Ruling and Backlash

This controversial statement comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of 303 Creative v. Elenis. The court ruled 6-3 in favor of a Colorado-based website designer, Lorie Smith, who expressed concerns about being punished under the state’s anti-discrimination law for refusing service to same-sex couples based on her Christian beliefs.

“The First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing a website designer to create expressive designs speaking messages with which the designer disagrees,” wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch in the majority opinion.

However, this ruling has faced criticism from pro-LGBT advocacy groups, who argue that it sets a regressive precedent. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, leading the dissent, wrote, “Today, the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class.”

Geiger’s Stance and Response

Geiger initially deleted her Facebook post after it gained viral attention. However, she later clarified her position in a subsequent post that remains visible. She stated, “I have no issues with LGB. It’s the TQ+ that I’m not going to support.” Geiger explained that her stance was to ensure the best experience for her clients and that she was not willing to cater to requests outside of what she perceives as normal.

These comments have prompted complaints to the Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is lesbian. Nessel’s office has stated that they are aware of Geiger’s intent to discriminate against Michigan residents and will take appropriate action.

Implications and Reactions

The controversy surrounding the nail salon’s statement is particularly significant for Nessel, as Traverse City is also the hometown of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s family and his husband. Buttigieg, the first openly gay member of a president’s Cabinet, has close ties to the area.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, representing Lorie Smith, sees the Supreme Court ruling as a victory for individuals from all walks of life. They argue that it protects the rights of an “LGBT graphic designer who doesn’t want to be forced to create art and promote messages that they disagree with.”

It is important to note that the 303 Creative ruling applies narrowly to creative tasks and duties that are strictly expressive. Discrimination against individuals with protected characteristics, such as members of the LGBT community, is not permitted.

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