Examining a Charge of Hypocrisy

Soon after the election, a US fashion designer called on all US designers to boycott the soon-to-be First Lady, declaring they should not give her their products to wear.

One of my Facebook Folk called the designer's stance an example of liberal hypocrisy.

Which got me thinking…Is it?

In one corner is the designer. Her opposition is based on the actions/behavior of the president-elect. She does not want him to be supported, however peripherally. She calls for her peers to refuse service to an individual and their family based on the individual's actions.

In another corner are the pizza parlor owners who, when asked, noted they would refuse to cater a hypothetical same-sex wedding. Their opposition is based on their religious beliefs. The sexuality of the hypothetical couple is an affront to the owners' faith, and thus cannot be supported, however peripherally.

Thus, we have

A refusal to serve an individual (and their family) based on the individual's actions

versus

A refusal to serve an individual (and their family) based on the individual's existence.

The basis of refusal is different. What someone has done compared to what someone is.

If the designer had encouraged her peers to boycott everyone who voted for the president-elect, or everyone affiliated with a certain political party,

OR

If the pizza parlor owners had specified an action or actions which would cause them to hesitate to cater the hypothetical wedding (for example, the couple in question are consistently rude to the staff),

then an argument for hypocrisy could be made. We're comparing a Pippin to a Gala, an apple to an apple.

Instead, we have two different fruit: A reaction to an individual, and a reaction to a group of people.

I don't see a hypocrisy here.