What protections? Don't over complicate this. A private business can choose who they do or do not do business with for any reason.
Except, you know, when they cant. One would think the litany of bakeries that have been sued, and lost from denying service to gays would have cemented this very basic fact in your mind.
At the heart of the debate is a system of anti-discrimination laws enacted by federal, state and local governments. The entire United States is covered by the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination by privately owned places of public accommodation on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. Places of public accommodation include hotels, restaurants, theaters, banks, health clubs and stores. Nonprofit organizations such as churches are generally exempt from the law.
The right of public accommodation is also guaranteed to disabled citizens under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination by private businesses based on disability.
The federal law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, so gays are not a protected group under the federal law. However, about 20 states, including New York and California, have enacted laws that prohibit discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation. In California, you also cant discriminate based on someones unconventional dress.
Sexual orientation isnt a federal mandate, yet. However it will become one with time. And 40% of states already cover it.
Businesses are not a free for all allowed to do whatever they want. Thats exactly what consumer protections are.
Im not over complicating anything. Youre being ignorant is all.
"The federal law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, so gays are not a protected group under the federal law." ---