Bigots Must Be Allowed to Discriminate

Apparently, a minor gay-related scandal is unfolding in Britain. The Conservative shadow home secretary, Chris Grayling, had been caught on tape suggesting that people who run bed and breakfasts in their homes should have the right to turn away gay couples. Some gay-rights activists are upset. Well, I think Mr Grayling is right. No one is ever entitled to enter a privately owned home. The B&B-owners that deny gay people a stay are homophobic bigots, but being a homophobic bigot is not a crime in itself.

I find many anti-discrimination laws problematic because they interfere with people’s liberty to do what they want with their property. In my opinion, legislators should only be concerned with discrimination when the state is concerned. Government authorities ought to treat all citizens equal, but citizens are entitled to decide for themselves how to treat each other. That is why it upsets me more when the police or the military discriminate gay people.

I also hold that we all should do more to criticise people who discriminate. Homophobes, anti-Semites, Islamophobes, racists, and sexists have no place in a modern society. They should be told this and asked to better themselves. But the law should not force them.