Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Florist faces second lawsuit over gay wedding refusal
EWTN News ^ | 4/23/2013

Posted on 04/23/2013 2:52:31 AM PDT by markomalley

A florist in Washington is being sued for a second time after choosing not to provide flower arrangements for a gay customer's upcoming wedding.

Barronelle Stutzman of Arlene's Flowers in Richland now faces two lawsuits, one from the Washington state Attorney General and another from the American Civil Liberties Union, for turning away business for a same-sex couple’s wedding.

When frequent customer Curt Freed approached Barronelle Stutzman of Arlene's Flowers last month to provide arrangements for his September wedding ceremony to Rob Ingersoll, the florist said she could not provide services due to her religious beliefs.

On the company's Facebook page, Stutzman described the incident after many receiving comments, saying she explained her position to the customer who said he respected her opinion.

She said that “because of my relationship with Jesus Christ,” she could not comply with his request to do floral arrangements for his wedding. It is her deeply-held conviction that marriage is between a man and a woman, she wrote in the post.

Stutzman recalled that the two hugged and Freed left the store.

It was not until after the couple relayed the story to their friends who were “livid” with the florist’s decision and posted about it on Facebook, according to a Seattle Times story, that they began to receive attention from the local media, and eventually the state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

After he learned of the incident Ferguson sent a letter to Stutzman “requesting she reconsider her position and sign an agreement indicating her intention to comply with Washington laws.”

When Stutzman’s attorneys responded saying that she would challenge any action to enforce the state’s anti-discrimination law, the Attorney General filed a consumer protection lawsuit against the florist who has been serving the area for the past 37 years.

In it, the state seeks a fine of $2,000 and has issued a court-order requiring Stutzman to comply with state law.

“Under the Consumer Protection Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against customers on the basis of sexual orientation,” Ferguson said in a statement on April 9.

“If a business provides a product or service to opposite-sex couples for their weddings, then it must provide same-sex couples the same product or service.”

Now Stutzman faces a second lawsuit as the American Civil Liberty Union filed one April 18 on behalf of Freed and Ingersoll.

“When a business serves the general public, the business owner’s religious beliefs may not be used to justify discrimination,” ACLU of Washington legal director Sarah Dunne said in a statement.

The ACLU lawsuit seeks a court order “barring the florist from discriminating against customers on the basis of sexual orientation” as well as damages “for the violation of the couple’s rights.”

Attorney Justin Bristol, who is representing the florist, argues that these cases are violating his client’s constitutional rights to freedom of speech, expression and religion.

Although Stutzman holds religious beliefs that do not validate same-sex marriage, enforcement of this law would force her “to express assent” for the issue.

“Can the state require a painter to paint a portrait of a gay couple? Could the state require a musician to write a song?” Bristol asked, according to the Associated Press. “Can the government compel them to say something they don't want to say? It violates the First Amendment.”

“It's not a public accommodation case,” he said. “She simply doesn't believe in gay marriage. She believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: aclu; antichristian; antifamily; diversity; harassment; homosexualagenda; homosexuals; nofreedomofreligion; nofreespeech; pc; politicalcorrectness; tolerance; washington
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last
To: markomalley

I find it odd that people even mention what they need flowers for. Just order flowers and tell them where to deliver. This is another reason why we don’t need Gay Marriage....they will yell it from the roof tops. There is absolutely ZERO need to tell the florist what the flowers are for. Hope the florist wins just for the gays being stupid.


21 posted on 04/23/2013 4:18:13 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Santorum-Bachmann 2016 for the future of the Country!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pollster1

A lawyer will use the same tactic that they use for blacks. Denny’s awhile ago was not serving blacks at their locations. A lawyer had to get in the way to allow Black customers to eat at Denny’s. Lawyers can be good and bad. Why in 2000’s, blacks were not served at Denny’s is beyond me.


22 posted on 04/23/2013 4:21:00 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Santorum-Bachmann 2016 for the future of the Country!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: markomalley; sickoflibs
maybe she outta just send the damned flowers, and if the arrangement happens to be less than her best work, so be it...last time i checked, flowers dont have 'this end up' printed on em...

mix a little stink weed in for added aroma, maybe add a bit of raw manure to it as well...really get an ambiance in a butt-pluggers ceremony...

23 posted on 04/23/2013 4:28:13 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stilloftyhenight
They will then sue Christian churches for refusing to perform weddings and wipe them out. Is there any doubt of their evil intent?

It is the driving purpose of the State. It can't have an organization calling evil 'evil'. It has to shut it down; silence it.

24 posted on 04/23/2013 4:36:08 AM PDT by Flick Lives (We're going to be just like the old Soviet Union, but with free cell phones!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Gilbo_3; markomalley
RE :”maybe she outta just send the damned flowers, and if the arrangement happens to be less than her best work, so be it...last time i checked, flowers dont have ‘this end up’ printed on em...
mix a little stink weed in for added aroma, maybe add a bit of raw manure to it as well...really get an ambiance in a butt-pluggers ceremony...”

Where I live in Maryland they have had a bunch of laws outlawing discrimination based on ‘orientation’ like that for a while.
If she loses these lawsuits or decides they cost to much a simple legal action she can take is to post posters in her store windows that call homosexuality perversion.
Maybe gays will boycott her business.

25 posted on 04/23/2013 4:41:18 AM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: magellan

Why not just buy the flowers elsewhere?”

...because then they couldn’t sue this guy and let the world know loudly and proudly exactly what it is they do in their bedroom!!!


26 posted on 04/23/2013 4:42:28 AM PDT by albie (s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Since gay people have a shorter average lifespan than normal people, the florist should say that they will be happy to provide flowers for the funeral.


27 posted on 04/23/2013 4:48:26 AM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Implementing class warfare by having no class.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

then it must provide same-sex couples the same product or service.

We used to call this Involuntary Servitude


28 posted on 04/23/2013 4:54:26 AM PDT by eyeamok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Real men don’t need flowers at their wedding anyhow. Oh, wait...


29 posted on 04/23/2013 4:55:27 AM PDT by Mich Patriot (PITCH BLACK is the new "transparent")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Sounds to me like a good way for the florist to get rid of all of her old stock she was getting ready to toss in the dumpster.


30 posted on 04/23/2013 5:03:31 AM PDT by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
A lawyer will use the same tactic that they use for blacks. Denny’s awhile ago was not serving blacks at their locations. A lawyer had to get in the way to allow Black customers to eat at Denny’s. Lawyers can be good and bad. Why in 2000’s, blacks were not served at Denny’s is beyond me.

Actually that wasn't true, even though the parasitic lawyers won as they too often do. Denny's gave whites who were not regular customers bad service too, with those regulars who tipped well getting preference. The blacks who got the usual Denny's service, the same I had experienced with some customers seated before me even in the same size group, sued and won.

31 posted on 04/23/2013 5:15:00 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Venturer

Looks like the biggest mistake is again airing the issue on social media!
The queer customer was fine with her decision!
The other queers found out from FB and got them riled and called in the protectors of queer mandate!
A queer situation!


32 posted on 04/23/2013 5:18:05 AM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

“freedom of association....can’t allow that I guess”

Freedom of association was eliminated with the smoking bans. Many a FReeper celebrated such actions and now they can enjoy the fruits of their joy.


33 posted on 04/23/2013 5:20:14 AM PDT by CSM (Keeper of the Dave Ramsey Ping list. FReepmail me if you want your beeber stuned.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

And I’m sure there are plenty of florists that would gladly accept their business. They are purposely targeting this woman.


34 posted on 04/23/2013 5:20:42 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
That's right...just keep pushing, poking and prodding us to accept and embrace what so many find distasteful and others find abhorrent.

Keep pushing us and pushing us to the win you seek for yourselves at our expense until our tolerance and patience are exhausted and then we go Old Testament on you.

You had better hope you lose in court, otherwise that time is coming and all your deepest fears will come to pass.

35 posted on 04/23/2013 5:23:06 AM PDT by GBA (Here in the Matrix, life is but a dream.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I must say, I’m getting so tired of these activist lawsuits targeting small businesses.

I don’t care what people do in their homes, but I do believe marriage is a sacrament. And it seems the gay activists often go after easy prey.

They have Hollywood sewn up; why trash people who are just trying to make a living?

(btw, I’m in a bit of a crabby mood this a.m. Sorry! :) )


36 posted on 04/23/2013 5:23:53 AM PDT by proud American in Canada (R.I.P., James Helmuth, my nephew who passed away at ten years old, from cancer, on March 23.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

“Sorry. The flowers didn’t arrive in time for the ceremony.”

Oops.


37 posted on 04/23/2013 5:23:59 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Blather. Reince. Repeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pollster1

I’d say okay and give them a bunch of weeds.


38 posted on 04/23/2013 5:46:29 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: magellan

I’m sure you know it isn’t about the flowers.


39 posted on 04/23/2013 5:47:00 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

I can tell you what I have heard from waitresses. Generally, blacks don’t tip well. Simple economics.


40 posted on 04/23/2013 5:49:26 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson