CYNTHIA AND ROBERT GIFFORD
TRADITIONAL WEDDING COUPLE IN THE LIBERTYRIDGE FAR<
Melissa Erwin and Jenny McCarthy, LESBIAN COUPLE WHO WANT TO BREAK TRADITION
Posted on 11/10/2014 3:23:31 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Cynthia and Robert Gifford, the Christian couple who refused to hold a same-sex wedding on their property, have been ordered to pay a $13,000 fine – $10,000 to the state of New York and $1,500 to each member of the lesbian couple to compensate their “mental anguish.”
The Giffords opened up their Liberty Ridge Farm in upstate New York to the public 15 years ago. They host weddings, receptions, parties, and corporate events, and put on an annual fall festival.
In 2012, Cynthia received a call from a woman, Melisa Erwin, who was looking for a venue for her wedding to then-fiancee, Jennifer McCarthy. Cynthia explained to Erwin that they would not host a same-sex wedding on their property because it violated their religious beliefs, but that they would be happy to host the reception. Erwin refused.
Unbeknownst to Cynthia, McCarthy recorded the conversation. She and Erwin filed a formal complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.
The Giffords argued that their farm is their home, not a place of public accommodation, and should therefore not be subject to the anti-discrimination provisions of New York’s Human Rights Law. However, Administrative Law Judge Migdalia Pares of the Bronx rejected their argument, saying that, since they regularly collect fees for the space, facilities, services, and meals, Liberty Ridge cannot be considered “distinctly private.”
The Giffords insist they do not discriminate against people – they have employed gay and transexual people and have hosted events for same-sex couples. Their objection was to hosting the wedding ceremony itself, because it would violate their sincerely held belief that God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman only.
(Excerpt) Read more at westernjournalism.com ...
File suit in federal court for title 18 section 1983 violation of the 1st Amendment freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of speach and freedom of the exercise of religion rights.
The Lesbians will file under 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.
With America embracing evil and depravity like it is, anyone who stands firm on the side of morality and decency is bound to be persecuted and punished.
Oh my.
Art 1, §3. — [Freedom of worship; religious liberty]
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this state to all humankind; and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his or her opinions on matters of religious belief; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this state. (Amended by vote of the people November 6, 2001.)
Time for the Supreme Court to step in on cases like this. It is simply wrong to force anyone to violate their religious or personal beliefs. The challenge is where the line gets drawn.
OK, how does one square the first amendment with this:
Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment:
“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
The gaystapo never seems to do this at muzzie businesses or mosques.
“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Well, by a plain reading of the 1st Amendment, it is binding explicitly upon Congress and therefore not applicable to the several States, even with the 14th Amendment.
Leftists do not like freedom.
Which gets to the crux of the question. Which has higher precedence, the 1st or the 14th amendments? When does one right enable the trampling of another right? Or is there some Solomon solution that strikes a balance. Something like, the state must allow a gay couple to be married but state can’t force someone to perform the ceremony against the tenants of their faith.
The justices and judges need to think very hard about the consequences of their rulings as their decision can be used against the progressive agenda in a number of ways.
RE: is there some Solomon solution that strikes a balance.
Here’s my humble solution.
If gays want to “marry”, they can.
All they need to do is go to a business establishment or a liberal church that will perform their weddings.
They should not use the government nor should the government allow itself to use FORCE or COERCION to compel people of faith to perform their “weddings” against their conscience.
I wonder what’s so difficult about that.
OMG!!! Someone has said they don’t agree with my lifestyle choice!! I’ve suffered mental anguish!!
Exactly
A Constitutional right trumps a statutory one every time
Freedom of Religion > Homosexual “rights”
Freedom of Association > Homosexual “rights”
If it was me, I’d sue the bastards and force the issue
Probably why they are not under Gods protection.
Do people not have a right anymore to do what they want on their own private property. The gaystapo is getting out of control.
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