Let Them Eat Cake – Just Not From Here

“I’m reminded that people don’t like us. People don’t like us being able to get married.” – Sarah Matherne 

As we’ve always known, the level of discrimination in this country is always up to the area you live in. In the LGBT world, where gays so often lack legal protections, discrimination is often most rampant in the small communities that people tend to forget about. This has literally played out close to home over the last couple of days here in small town Louisiana. 

My husband grew up in Houma, Louisiana; a great little small town which at first glance usually seems progressive, from its Martin Luther King Boulevard, where most of the shopping and advancement of the city has taken place, to it’s historic district downtown. Hidden in this little area, unbeknownst to most outside people, is a little bakery called Caro. This bakery has served this community for many years without question and without scrutiny, until July 2015.

This week, a local couple, Jenita Billiot and Sarah Matherne, (photo above) called the bakery to make plans for their wedding.

“She said there was still enough time for me to get there to make the order.” Sarah reported. “She did not ask my name, but asked what is the bride’s name and I said, ‘Sarah,’ and she asked about the groom and I said, ‘There will be two brides, and her name is Jenita,’ and that is when she said, ‘Oh no, we don’t do that.'”

That’s when they were turned away. Turned away in a manner that didn’t make a whole lot of biblical sense, which is what this subject always comes back to – religion.

 “I realize it’s every company’s legal right whether or not to serve members of the gay community,” Matherne said in an online post. “I would just like to reach out and let other members of the gay community, who may use this company, know that they are nowhere near gay friendly.”

It is undeniable that these two ladies were turned away based on a religious bias – the couple didn’t fulfill the “word of god.”

The bakery never would have found this couple out, had they not mentioned a second bride. But in order to fulfill their biblical principles, one would think there would be other questions. If they have an issue providing cakes to marriages that exist outside of biblical marriage – why not second, third, or fourth marriages? Will they now put a screening process in place for all customers to make sure they too aren’t violating their beliefs? It leaves us to wonder, are they discriminating based on the sex of the two individuals exclusively, or are they using this type of screening process for everyone?

We do not know the answer to these questions, but what we do know that our kind is not welcome, for whatever reasons they may hold. 

In a statement to the local Houma Times, Caro owner, who is Roman Catholic, said:

“I am one single person doing what I feel is right by God. Things are not going good in the world or our country and we are going toward darkness. I am not rejecting gay people; it’s not that we are rejecting the people themselves. We just don’t want to be a part of the marriage part, the celebration. The new ruling is that legally they can be married in this country but I cannot be a part of that with my Christian beliefs. I could use the money. But I feel this is the right thing to do.”

I disagree with equating making a cake and taking part in a wedding. Having had a marriage ceremony myself, I don’t believe a cake baker is participating in a marriage ceremony anymore than the person who is in charge of cleaning up after the party.

I for one have lost nothing in this battle. I personally have never used this establishment.  I have tasted their cake before, as my husband and his family in the area have used them for years. I can say this; I will never have to taste the amount of bigotry in their cake batter ever again.

I also hope that the community and those who live in that area will take heed and save themselves some trouble, and also avoid this kind of disrespect for their family.

As my husband and I plan our vow renewal ceremony, we intend to inquire with local vendors how they feel on the subject before ever using anyone who could use this kind of logic in selecting their clientele.

When asked his opinion, Jon, my husband and Houma native had this to say:

“I feel it’s a set back in a community and town that has come so far with this subject. When I was growing up, it was a lot more difficult to be your true self. After all the strides that have been made, it’s sad to see that such a great place has a lot more work to do. Fortunately, it’s a dying breed and new blood will soon take over.”

Sadly, religious discrimination is a subject that will be addressed across this country, in many communities, for some time to come. That fact reminds us why comprehensive LGBT protection needs to be addressed, not only on a state level, but also on a federal level. It is my belief that if some of these existing small towns had their way, they would still be discriminating against certain groups to this day.

 

Photo via Facebook