Kerby Anderson

Freedom of association has been the issue in so many of the religious liberty cases over the last few years. Should a baker, florist, or photographer be required to perform their artistic services for an event that is contrary to their moral stance?

In most of these cases, government officials say that a person’s moral objections to same sex marriage cannot be a justification. If someone disagrees with what a homosexual or lesbian couple believes and wants to do, too bad. You must be forced to do something that violates your conscience. If you do not, you face fines and even bankruptcy.

It is worth keeping this in mind as we now witness the reactions from people who do not want to participate in the inauguration of Donald Trump. Ben Shapiro talks about the social media reaction when the Radio City Rockettes were told that they had to perform at the Trump Inauguration.

One Rockette complained about being forced to perform for a man “that stands for everything we’re against.” She concluded with this statement: “We will not be forced!” George Takei complained on Twitter that they were being “forced to go along with something horrible they didn’t choose.”

We can add to these comments other statements by prominent figures that they won’t eat at any restaurant hosted by Trump Tower and that they won’t stay in a Trump Hotel. Fashion icon Andre Leon Talley announced that he wouldn’t dress Melania anymore.

Ben Shapiro writes that suddenly the left has discovered the concept of freedom of association. “After years of telling religious people the they had a moral and legal obligation to throw out their religion and serve same sex weddings, provide contraception, and fund abortion, the left now realizes that the ability to pick and choose those to whom you give your services is actually rather vital.”

Reactions to the Trump Inauguration provide some important examples of why freedom of association is important.