N.J. Shop Refused To Sell Wedding Dress To Lesbian Bride

ABC:

Popular reality wedding shows such as "Say Yes to the Dress" depict how emotionally trying the purchase of a wedding dress can be, but Alix Genter found that out for herself when she was refused her dream dress from a New Jersey bridal boutique.

Read the whole story: ABC

Comments

[Bridal Shop Michigan]

10:54 PM on 09/03/2011

If this woman came to me for a dress, I would be honored to sell earn her business. Just as I would be honored to earn anyone's business. I do not agree with the decision made by this shop owner. I do however, believe the shop owner reserves the right to refuse service to anyone they desire. The customer deserves respect and dignity regardless if you sell them a dress or not. http://www.bridalshopmichigan.com

[Michael Gambino]

02:19 AM on 08/23/2011

Christians look so ignorant when they quote passages from their book of fables. Christian mythology is a bunch of nonsense.

[garrarest1]

04:20 PM on 08/24/2011

You're not the one who Christians are trying to impress my friend.

[Michael Gambino]

07:03 PM on 08/25/2011

I can safely say that no Christian would ever impress me. Well, unless they finally realize their book of fables is nothing more than rubbish.

[Walden Pond]

09:51 PM on 08/21/2011

I'm inclined to think that part of this issue is due to the shop owner mistakenly believing that she wasn't legally allowed to sell a dress to someone that she believed to be entering into an illegal union. The rest is hearsay between two people dealing with a sensitive topic.

[truth be told again]

03:12 PM on 08/22/2011

What an utter, apologist B.S. excuse for discrimination.

[Walden Pond]

04:58 PM on 08/22/2011

Perhaps it is, but I wasn't there so I can't be sure. People say stupid stuff when they get mad, and by the sound of it they both were. I was once kicked out of a bridal boutique when the owner was acting like a bully to the bride and I came to her defense. We all decided to take our business elsewhere.

[MissRoseNylund]

02:26 AM on 08/24/2011

Why would it be illegal to sell the dress? Civil Unions have been legal in New Jersey for several years, so having a ceremony isn't illegal in that state. The couple is also having a legal wedding in New York. There was no reason for the dress owner to think that they were doing something illegal.

There is no law that says a "wedding dress" has to be sold to a bride. A "wedding dress" is just a white gown. Anyone wanting a white gown can go into the shop and buy one, even if they aren't getting married. A friend has a daughter who was a Debutante at a Ball for African American girls, and they all wore white gowns. My friend bought her daughter's gown at a bridal shop. They didn't refuse to sell her a "wedding dress" because it wasn't being used by a bride. My friend said that the shop said that they had a number of girls from the event buy "wedding dresses" at their shop, and told her what gowns were already bought so her daughter wouldn't show up wearing the same gown as someone else.

[Walden Pond]

08:05 AM on 08/24/2011

I didn't say she was the brightest bulb on the tree.

[Richcrafter]

09:36 PM on 08/21/2011

It's Jersey! The armpit of American intelligence; don't fret! Buy it where brains override idiots.

[Bob Wood]

07:21 PM on 08/21/2011

It's sad that people can be so shallow. As a supporter of private property rights...I think the shop owner should be able to sell to whoever she wants. That said...she's wrong on so many levels that she should...and probably will, discover that actions always have consequences. Most Americans today have friends who are LGBT. Most will disapprove of this action by no longer considering that shop as a source...and shop elsewhere. Spoiling anyones wedding...one of the happiest days for most people...is always wrong. The shop should be publicly ostracized for it's lack of humanity. Shame on them...and a pox...(sigh)

[Absolute]

06:53 PM on 08/21/2011

Another proud bigot attempts to justify their hatred and ignorance. Shameful.

[RACVC]

06:12 PM on 08/21/2011

Geese you're a store selling an over priced dress.
Why would you bring your politics/beliefs into it.
Dumb business move.

[hollace]

05:43 PM on 08/21/2011

your in the wrong business . where are we? Romania for gods sake?

[Angie Daniels]

04:05 PM on 08/21/2011

Sounds like some enterprising NJ bridal shop owners need to get on the ball and say they're willing to work with alternative partners in their wedding and commitment ceremonial choices.

[keezze]

02:29 PM on 08/21/2011

To punish this dress shop, I propose a wedding moditorium on weadings for 1 year

[barrycourage]

01:24 PM on 08/21/2011

Discrimination in public accommodation is illegal in New Jersey and gays and lesbians are a protected class.

Would be interesting to see if stores are considered public accommodations under law and whether the shopkeeper violated Ms. Genter's civil rights.

[barrycourage]

01:26 PM on 08/21/2011

BTW. If the shopkeeper were smart she would have tried to sell a dress to Ms. Genter's partner, too.

[truth be told again]

03:16 PM on 08/22/2011

So perceptive, barry. She could have had TWO sales of very expensive dresses, and chose bigotry over doing what is right.

[Sherard D Rhodes]

05:26 AM on 08/21/2011

I really get the feeling that somehow both of them messed up in this case, looks a lot like hearsay to me. I do believe that the shop owner started the argument but I think their is a little truth in both of these accounts and this should have not have been anything more then a few F words to each other, and moved to some other place to buy her dress. After the two got to into argument which of that intensity she shouldn't have expected that dress.

[rysagr]

11:55 PM on 08/20/2011

who cares

[KeyWestDan]

11:15 AM on 08/21/2011

People who think & have empathy. Probably not people you know.

[rysagr]

01:12 PM on 08/21/2011

lol omfg. pretty funny dude

[NewDem08]

11:03 PM on 08/23/2011

Nicely done. F & F

[Misterioso Adversario]

01:46 PM on 08/21/2011

People who care about equal rights, some of us in this country don't think its right to discriminate people on something so base as sexual orientation.

[Ken Nemeth]

11:20 PM on 08/20/2011

This is the beauty of the United States. Read the Yelp reviews. "Here Comes The Bride" is getting rightfully slammed and the boycott's not far behind. People, vote with your dollars! Don't give your hard earned dollars to someone who is absolutely a bigot and hateful. You know it when you read it - the owner talks about "those people". This is patently and clearly offensive, and, ironically, she is the one who is committing the crime, not the bride. It's illegal to discriminate in the way you do business based on sexual orientation. Chapter 11, here we come and not a moment too soon!

[Kat Ingalls]

03:47 PM on 08/21/2011

ahhh, the voice of reason. Fanned and Faved!

[TRhett]

08:09 PM on 08/21/2011

I knew the shop owner's claim that people were walking in "literally throwing money at her" was ridiculous. More likely, they were throwing rotten fruit.

[elliemaith]

10:33 PM on 08/20/2011

Good for you for standing up for what is the truth. What gays and lesbians are doing is certainly wrong is the sight of God. It's an abominations. If this store feels against it so be it. There are more people that want to do it the right way. If that becomes a problem, they certainly can take it to a city where there wont be any issues.

[Ken Nemeth]

11:23 PM on 08/20/2011

Luckily in 10 or 20 years, your viewpoint will be realized as the bigoted, narrowminded position it is. You, ma'am, are a dinosaur. G-d loves everyone, gay and straight. You are the one with the problem.

[garrarest1]

04:29 PM on 08/24/2011

God does love everyone. And He wants all of us to share HIs Divinity in heaven. God is a gentleman and respects our choices. If we don't want to follow His will and would rather commit sins against Him, so be it. A thousand years in the past or 10-20 years in the future, it doesn't matter. The truth will always be the truth.

[Intelligenti Pauca]

12:53 AM on 08/21/2011

What makes you think that your religion gives you the "right" to be a bigot? America was not founded on Christiani­ty. We, as a country, do not have any sort of "approved"­, "acknowled­ged" National Religion. Christiani­ty doesn't have any more validity in trying to dictate policy to the government than Mormonism, Judaism or Islam has. In other words, ZERO.

Stop trying to use your religion as a basis for your discrimina­tion. Your holy book and your religion do not confer any special rights to you. It doesn't set you above anyone else & it doesn't make you special. And it certainly doesn't make you any more qualified to deny rights to a group of people because of what you think it says in your holy book.

Oh, and Homosexual­ity is considered to be normal, not "an abomination"..

Says who? Oh, only the following:

American Medical Associatio­n
American Psychiatri­c Associatio­n
American Psychologi­cal Associatio­n
American Counseling Associatio­n
National Associatio­n of Social Workers
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Child Welfare League of America
American Associatio­n of School Administra­tors
American Federation of Teachers
National Associatio­n of School Psychologi­sts
American Academy of Physician Assistants
National Education Associatio­n
Royal College of Physicians
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)
American Associatio­n of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)

Can you provide an equally impressive list to support your claim that homosexual­ity is an abomination?

[bornagainchristiam]

10:36 AM on 08/21/2011

Please read what God, our Heavenly Father and creator says about homosexuality, :
Leviticus 18:22
1 Corinthinthians 6:9
1 Timothy 1:9-11
Romans 1:26-27
God as the creator of humankind has the 'final' say. God does love everyone but does not tolerate sin, so he sent His son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for sin for anyone who chooses to accept this awesome gift of eternal life.

[bornagainchristiam]

05:43 PM on 08/21/2011

I just did, sodomy used to be against the law.............people's opinions change - God does not. You people can scoff and call the Bible and God a myth but He still offers Jesus sacrifice on the cross for all who believe and He loves all of us equally.