Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
#0Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:15pm
HOUSTON -- An e-mail from a Houston-area landscaper that said he chose not to do work for homosexuals has spread nationwide, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.
Michael Lord wanted to spruce up the outside of his home in the Heights, so he asked the "Garden Guy" to create an outdoor work of art.
But he was rejected based on his sexual orientation.
An e-mail from Sabrina Farber, with the Garden Guy Inc., said she could not meet with Lord because the company chooses not to work for homosexuals.
The Garden Guy Inc.'s Web site is upfront about the family's beliefs. It said that marriage is under attack and included a link to nogaymarriage.com.
The e-mail and Web site have stirred up controversy.
The couple was not available for an interview but issued the following apology.
"We meant to uphold our right as a small-business owner to choose who our clients are. We are humbly sorry for the hurt that it has caused," Farber said.
The company's Web site also states that it is a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. But it is not, according to the organization's president.
"APLD does not support discriminating against clients based on sexual orientation. APLD will take steps to see that the former member ceases any representation that he or she continues to be a member of APLD," the president said in a statement.
Some are defending the couple's decision. The American Family Association issued the following statement.
"Todd, like millions of Americans, obviously has a moral conviction based on his religious beliefs against homosexual behavior and that lifestyle. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that."
Others believe the e-mail is discriminatory, although legal analysts said the couple's decision to not work with homosexuals was not illegal.
The Garden Guy Inc. has been operating in Houston since 1991. Company officials said they do not refuse service with malicious intent, and they said they do not hate homosexuals.
Opponents are calling for a boycott.
_____________________
I say, why not take this opportunity to let Todd & Sabrina Farber know how you feel about their hateful, discriminating behavior. Contact them yourself:
Todd & Sabrina Farber
1307 Musselburgh Ct.
Missouri City, TX 77459
281-403-2756
www.garden-guy.com
#1re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:18pmGod, I'm so glad I don't live in TX anymore.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#2re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:20pm
I was wondering when this story was going to migrate over here! You know, people have a right to refuse work. But they sure are stupid to say "we choose not to work for homosexuals" and then to sign off "all the best."
Incidentally, two things. 1) Their work is horrible. 2) The husband is, as they say, "woofy."
cheezedoodle
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/15/05
#3re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:20pmSo why are they requesting the services of a breeder in the first place? I mean - we gay's have all that talent in our genes! Unless he just did not want to get dirt under his nails.
#4re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:21pmI don't understand how this is any different from him going, "Well, since you are black, I am not doing it!"
#5re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:23pm
"Well, since you are black, I am not doing it!"
That was exactly my thought. This may seem a petty fight to pick, but seeing as I live in Houston, I'm going to make as big of a deal out of this as I possibly can. I'm totally disgusted by these assholes.
#6re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:25pm
...Yep. I love this city.
[/sarcasm]
It's not any different. but apparantly it's okay to hate gays in America.
#7re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:35pm
Spider, if the guy understood the "black" metaphor, he wouldn't have an issue with gays in the first place. He fundamentally believes that homosexuality is a "behavior" and a "lifestyle." People cannot stop being being black (or, conversely, CHOOSE to be black), but he believes gay people do choose their behavior.
Unfortunately though, he can legally refuse service to anyone he chooses. It's his own financial loss. Whatever. Idiot.
Updated On: 10/20/06 at 07:35 PM
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:36pmWould anyone really want a heterosexual designing his landscape anyhow?
#9re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:41pmWhat I am saying is, that a black person could sue a person by doing this no matter what that person believes. But, homosexuality is seen as something that it is ok to persecute against. And that REALLY tickes me off. Land of the free my ass.
#10re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:43pmOh, I totally agree with you. I'm just saying that if the landscaper saw it that way, there wouldn't be an issue at all.
#11re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:44pmWell, that's bigotry for ya!
#12re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:46pm
Well... just being realistic here... as a graphic designer, I would turn down work for any strict religious or political organization that would go against my beliefs.
Just sayin'...
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
#13re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:48pmBut why? It's not like they are inviting you to participate in their beliefs or lifestyle. They just want someone to fix their house.
#14re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:52pmI guess it's my way to take a stand against them. I would not design a website or a pamphlet for say, an anti-abortion campaign.
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
#15re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:53pmWell, yeah. But, I am just saying that if a muslim came to you and said, "I am thinking of doing something different with my house," would you deny them because they are muslim? Now, the abortion thing, I understand.
#16re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 7:54pmWow. Can open. Worms everywhere.
#17re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 8:01pm
The bottom line is, he has the right to refuse, but maybe he shouldn't have been blatantly honest. That was his mistake. Now the whole world knows. Had he given a different reason, the homeowner wouldn't be the wiser.
ETA: Isn't it ironic that the homeowner's name is Lord?
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#18re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 8:43pm
I guess there is a difference between being prejudicial because of race and/or religion, and standing up for your convictions.
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
#19re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 8:45pmTrue! True!
#20re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 8:45pm
gah.
and I call Houston home... 
#21re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 8:56pm
I guess there is a difference between being prejudicial because of race and/or religion, and standing up for your convictions.
The problem is that people STILL don't understand that just like being born black or Jewish, being gay is not a choice. Open discrimination like this against blacks and Jews would be unspeakable, but not so with gays.
#22re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 9:00pmBTW: How did the landscaper know the homeowner is gay?
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#23re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 9:12pmyou know people are going to answer that with jokes, right?
DG
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
#24re: Houston Landscaper Refuses To Work For Gay Customers
Posted: 10/20/06 at 9:16pmAs long as the gay issue is allowed to continue as a morality discussion, rather than a civil liberties one, this situation will persist. Our current government has made it clear that they are willing to allow moral stance as a defensible arguement to deny service - hence the allowance of pharmacists to deny birth control.
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