Yesterday I talked about the bills being considered in a number of state legislatures that would protect businesses from being forced into providing services for same-sex marriages if the owner had moral or religious concerns. The liberal media’s reaction has been over the top. Some call these bills “homosexual Jim Crow laws.” Others call them “anti-gay segregation” bills.

Ryan Anderson, with the Heritage Foundation, tries to inject some sanity and common sense into this ongoing debate. He points out that these bills are an attempt to “prevent the kind of coercion that happened under Jim Crow. They protect what should already be protected: basic civil liberties such as freedom of association, freedom of contract, and freedom of religion.”

Most of us assume that we have the right to associate with people we want. And we would assume that a business should have some rights to refuse to provide some services. Should a pro-life pharmacist be required to dispense pills that are abortifacients? Should a Jewish delicatessen be forced to provide non-Kosher food? Should a Muslim shop face a fine or lawsuit if they refuse to serve pork products or alcohol? I think most Americans believe we should have the right to refuse service in such cases.

Freedom of association means we should have the freedom to choose whom to associate with. Yes, we have laws that prohibit discrimination against people seeking “public accommodation.” But we aren’t talking about renting an apartment. We are talking about coercing business owners to do something that violates their moral or religious convictions. Many liberal commentators cannot see the difference.

Leaders of the homosexual movement say they want the freedom to live how they choose. Freedom is a two-way street. Don’t these business owners have the right to live as they choose?

But the critics then ask: Where would someone go to get served if someone refuses to dispense a pill, bake a cake or take a photo? My answer is simple: they would go down the street. There are lots of other pharmacies, bakeries, and photography studios in most towns. Protecting religious liberty is a small inconvenience. If they can’t or won’t provide what you want, walk down the street.