Are we not a nation that praises "equal rights for all?" It is apparent that this is not so. In the case of the recent incident at Arlene's Flowers we have an instance of true discrimination against somebody just because he is homosexual. He has done no harm against this owner and has been a loyal customer for many years, but when requesting flowers for his legal union to his beloved, he was denied based strictly on his sexual orientation.

This denial may be based in religious beliefs, but, in truth, it is no better than how African-Americans were treated in white-only diners. Heterosexual-only flowers, really? This is discrimination through and through and I applaud Eryn Hugo for making a stand against it.

I have no issue with religious faith; however it is wrong to deny civil rights and liberties based off of somebody's race, religion or sexual orientation. America is the land of the free. This must stop; it doesn't matter if you are religious or not, discrimination is wrong.

-- EVERETT HUNTINGTON, Richland