When GLSO approached Hands On Originals about making the official t-shirt, Blaine Adamson, an Hands On Originals owner, inquired about the message promoted at the GLSO Pride Festival. Over the past several years, Hands On Originals has declined at least 13 orders where it believed the designs were contrary to the Christian beliefs of its owners. However, due to the promotional nature of our products, it is the prerogative of Hands On Originals to refuse any order that would endorse positions that conflict with the convictions of the ownership. Hands On Originals both employs and conducts business with people of all genders, races, religions, sexual preferences, and national origins. HOO publishes the following notice on its web site:
The case arose when a company called Hands On Originals refused to print official t-shirts for the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization’s 2012 Pride Festival.
The First Amendment may protect the latter, but maybe not the former? And it’s easy to see where the result may be a little confusing. A Lexington, Kentucky court recently weighed in on the distinction between refusing to serve a gay customer and refusing to print a pro-gay message.
