A friend and I were discussing the boycott of a certain author -- namely, Orson Scott Card -- on the grounds that he is an active anti-homosexual activist. Card is one of my favorite authors and my position was that readers should judge art and work based on its own merit, not on the beliefs or actions of the author. But on the other hand, I recognize the validity of refusing to support the works of someone whose opinions you fiercely oppose. But this got me thinking: businesses have many of the same rights as individuals (because they are composed of individuals), and the hiring of an employee is comparable to the purchase of a product; the difference is that in employment you form a contract for a regular exchange of money for a service. So if I can refuse to say, contract a lawyer who hates black people, or refuse to buy from a person whose views, or even sexual orientation or race, I dislike, why should business owners not be able to do that exact same thing? I'm not arguing for or against either side; I haven't even decided on how I feel about it yet. I'm just interested in hearing your opinions.