Storefront stickers counter religious freedom bill

If some wedding businesses want to cite their religious freedom to turn away gay couples, a local grassroots campaign is highlighting the businesses that will serve everyone.

Businesses can buy "Open for Service" stickers to put in their doors and windows to show they welcome all customers, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The campaign opposes proposed "religious freedom" legislation that some say will protect business owners' right to exercise their religious beliefs – but others fear will allow discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"It's not to single out bakeries that say they're not going to make the cakes," said Indianapolis resident Josh Driver, 33, who launched the Open for Service campaign. "I tend to put a positive spin on situations like this and focus on businesses that are willing to bake the cakes or be the DJ."

For $10, businesses can buy the sticker and be listed in a directory online at openforservice.org – "an anti-discrimination Angie's List, so to speak," Driver said. After covering the cost of making the stickers, Driver said the proceeds will go to SCORE, a national network that helps small business owners.

Driver sees Open for Service as a way to "dictate the market" by supporting businesses that aren't backing the religious freedom bill.

"We're not looking to target businesses that don't want to get on board," he said. "This is more of a celebration."

He partnered with Indianapolis web designer Andrew Markle to launch the campaign this week. Twenty businesses have already signed up for stickers, Driver said.

Driver also started the Purple Hat Project several years ago to show support for marriage equality.

Silver in the City, a Downtown gift store on Mass Ave., is one of the businesses on board with the Open for Service campaign, said owner Kristin Kohn.

"Nobody would be turned away from patronizing our business based on who they are or what they believe," she said, adding, "I want all of our visitors to feel welcome in Indianapolis. It's a fight back at what I believe to be a very negative image that the rest of the nation might feel toward Indiana based on this bill."

During state senators' debate on the proposal in February, Portage Democrat Karen Tallian suggested that businesses should be required to post signs showing what groups they may not serve because of conflicts with their religious beliefs. As an example for Christian businesses that oppose same-sex marriages, she held up a sign of a rainbow with a red slash running through it.

Call Star reporter Stephanie Wang at (317) 444-6184. Follow her on Twitter: @stephaniewang.