Posted on 08/22/2014 5:18:22 AM PDT by xzins
A New York couple faces thousands of dollars in fines for declining to rent out their family farm for a same-sex wedding celebration.
The New York State Division of Human Rights fined Cynthia and Robert Gifford $13,000 for declining a request from a lesbian couple to rent the family barn for their ceremony.
The Giffords have owned and operated Liberty Ridge Farm in for over 25 years. They believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
Like many small farm families, they often open up their home to host public events, including weddings.
In addition to the fines, the family has been told to implement "re-education" classes for their staff.
Should the government be in the business of "re-educating" citizens to change their moral beliefs? Ryan Anderson, with the Heritage Foundation, talks about this and more.
First, there is absolutely no way that “re-education against a person’s beliefs” is constitutional.
Second, even if the couple regularly allowed their barn to be used for weddings, that doesn’t mean they didn’t ALWAYS determine who could or could not use it based on other than dollars.
This is their HOME, and what they say about their HOME being a part of their religion is ABSOLUTELY true. It is a basic premise of Christianity.
So, this is different in that respect than a public business like a bakery. (Although, I think independent businesses have the right to offer whatever product they want to offer. If they don’t offer homosexual wedding cakes, then they don’t...same as if they don’t offer bages...they just don’t.
It’s about time some Neo Nazi’s start going to black owned businesses and demand to be served!
Homofascists destroy everything. We will not forget...
The New York State Division of Human Rights is a traitorous organization giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
If forced to have the wedding, there are some pretty nasty smells that can be on a farm. Bring in some pigs.
Submit or pay tribute. Guess threat of death is next ... Reminds me of a particular cult.
They are fascists. They demand thought control be one of their powers.
Decline to pay the fine as well. Make them work a lien through the system.
Go f*** yourselves, NY state "authorities."
If the farm was not in New York there would be no problem.
The problem is New York
How is that for freedom of religion?
Isaiah 5:20 applies.
That is such an awesome point, nti.
The islamofascists say to Christians: convert, pay 2nd class citizen life impoverishment tax continually, or be executed.
The homofascists say to Christians: convert, pay 2nd class citizen fines with reeducation, or be financially/legally ruined/imprisoned.
Any conservative who still lives in the Soviet State of New York needs their head examined. Moved out in 2000, best move to-date.
It is abundantly clear that liberal States are promoting homosexual behavior, and persecuting those who oppose it.
Those who want to be free from liberal oppression, should move to conservative States.
News reports like this one from New York means that you have been forewarned.
We had a wedding at our farm a few weeks ago. The “wedding industry” people that catered it and the pastor all told us we had a wedding and reception gold mine. We’ve been making plans to put a permanent wedding building there. We see this homosexual marriage thing as a possible show stopper.
Too bad you give up your freedom of association when you start a business. This stuff is, obviously, unconstitutional.
It’s funny how the SCOTUS seems to think people give up their constitutional rights once they decide to earn a living and try to feed themselves.
Free country, my a$$. The US has become the description in my grade school years (60’s) of the soviet union.
The family farm is home first and means of livelihood second. They are demanding this couple cannot live their faith in their own home.
If they get away with it, it is a foot in the door for further home demands....’re-education of children” for example in homofascist religious ideology.
Extorting Tyrants.. The government not the couple. By this logic then any gay owned business should be required to serve KKK meetings.
May our voices be one Zxins. May our voices be one.
The bad thing is that it's your home and not a business in the sense of sense of Wal-Mart, open to the public.
You would control any number of things: alcohol, drugs, sexuality, etc.
I would encourage you to incorporate it as a religious camp with a set of principles that any would-be couples would have to agree to. IOW, you facilitate religious events...true marriages according to the dictates of your faith.
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