A Michigan Hair Salon Owner Bans Queer Patrons Because She Doesn't Like Pronouns
Less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ customers, a Michigan salon owner has banned some queer patrons.
Less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ customers, a Michigan salon owner has banned some queer patrons.
The Tea:
Christine Geiger is the owner of Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City, MI.
In a now deleted Facebook post, Geiger compared people with gender expansive identities to animals, saying, "If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer. You are not welcome at this salon. Period."
She then focused her attack on pronouns, saying, "Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please note we may simply refer to you as 'hey you.'"
The Background:
In Geiger's diatribe, she referenced Michigan HB 4744, a bipartisan piece of legislation that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed into law. The legislation establishes statewide protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ Michiganders.
However, conservatives and right wing media have decried the law and spread misinformation that it would "Make Hurting Someone’s Feelings a Hate Crime."
The Big Picture:
This comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the 303 Creative v Elenis case, a landmark decision that makes it legal for businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ customers.
The case was brought by Lorie Smith, the owner of Colorado web design company, 303 Creative. Backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the case challenged a Colorado law that prohibits businesses from discriminating against LGBTQ customers. Smith, a Christian, argued that she should not be forced to design wedding websites for LGBTQ couples.
With its ruling, the court shaped whether American businesses can legally deny service to LGBTQ people under the First Amendment. This will allow a range of businesses to be able to discriminate against customers, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants.
What's Next
While it is impossible to know the future, one can look to the past to help predict what's coming up:
- Copycat cases: Right-wing owned businesses in other cities and states may begin banning some or all members of the LGBTQ+ community, citing 303 Creative v. Elenis.
- Studio 8 x ADF collab?: The Alliance Defending Freedom has represented both the defendant in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case and 303 Creative v. Elenis. After their efforts to legalize anti-LGBTQ discrimination fell short with Masterpiece Cakeshop, the ADF recruited Lorie Smith's 303 Creative as a plaintiff.
It's possible that Christine Geiger/Studio 8 Hair Lab could follow the playbook set forth by Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative by being enlisted by the ADF (or another right-wing organization) to sue the state of Michigan regarding its recent law expanding protections against anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
Of course, these are just predictions. But time will tell how this plays out.
