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Christian Videographer Faces Legal Action After Refusing to Work Lesbian Wedding
Christian Post ^ | 03/19/2015 | Samuel Smith

Posted on 03/19/2015 8:15:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

A wedding videographer in Ohio could face legal action after she declined to shoot a lesbian couples' wedding ceremony because it would have conflicted with her biblical understanding that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.

When Jenn Moffitt and her partner Jerra Kincely were searching in February for a videographer to film their wedding, they sent an email inquiry to a local video production company called Next Door Stories in Bexley, Ohio, a town in the Columbus suburbs.

CNN reports that the couple got an email back from the company's owner, Courtney Schmackers, on Feb. 4 politely informing them that she doesn't offer her services for same-sex weddings.

"Hello, Thank you for reaching out about wedding videography. How did you hear about Next Door Stories?" Schmackers' email asked. "Unfortunately at this time I do not offer services for same-sex weddings, but thank you for your inquiry!"

In an interview with CNN that was published Monday, Moffitt said that she was stunned by Schmackers' response to her request.

"I couldn't believe it," Moffitt explained. "It is a small business, and I thought this was a tight-knit community. We wanted to support local commerce and to get that kind of response was astounding."

Moffitt and Kincely have filed a complaint against Next Door Stories with the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce. The couple has also taken to Facebook to explain the conflict, which has stirred outrage among gay rights advocates, which has shined a negative light on Schmackers' business.

Although Schmackers' refused to provide a comment to CNN on why she refused to provide her services to the lesbian couple, The Daily Mail reports that Schmackers took to Facebook to explain her decision.

"I made a business decision based on my spiritual beliefs and the biblical definition of marriage because I thought that I had a right to that," Schmackers wrote. "Unfortunately, I gave the wrong answer to the wrong person, who decided to make a private issue into a public platform and now I am fully experiencing the consequences. I am sorry you had to be exposed to it, and I'm open to any and all conversation regarding it."

Although the couple filed the complaint, Ohio is one of 13 states that does not allow same-sex marriages, and Bexley is also a municipality that does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Additionally, the Bexley Chamber of Commerce does not prohibit its members from discriminating based on sexual orientation.

The Bexley Chamber of Commerce issued a statement through Facebook on Monday condemning Schmackers' refusal of service. The post continued by stating that board members have decided that the chamber's policy must be changed so that this type of "discrimination" does not happen again.

"At our Feb. 11 board meeting, we discussed in detail how the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce could ensure this does not happen again. The Chamber Board believes that discrimination in any form is wrong and should not be tolerated. At this meeting, the board agreed that our membership policy must be revised to reflect this. We began the process of re-writing [sic] our policies and guidelines."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: firstamendment; gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; liberalfascism; ssm; videographer
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1 posted on 03/19/2015 8:15:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

The new slavery is forcing people to do things in the name of political correctness....


2 posted on 03/19/2015 8:17:23 AM PDT by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: SeekAndFind

Protip: always set these things up requiring an invitation (which may be declined). They aren’t forcing us to attend Clamilicker weddings... yet.


3 posted on 03/19/2015 8:18:25 AM PDT by Rodamala
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To: SeekAndFind

It isn’t about being treated fairly. It’s about punishing anyone who will not celebrate the gay agenda.


4 posted on 03/19/2015 8:18:27 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (True followers of Christ emulate Christ. True followers of Mohammed emulate Mohammed.)
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To: SeekAndFind

In the land of the Fee, and the home of the knave...


5 posted on 03/19/2015 8:20:07 AM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Just charge them twice as much and keep the lens cap on.


6 posted on 03/19/2015 8:20:40 AM PDT by longfellow (Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Tolerance” for anything except her point of view.

She should have said she was booked up for a couple of years.

You WILL comply with the gay mafia.


7 posted on 03/19/2015 8:21:03 AM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: SeekAndFind

How many of these homosexual wedding stories are deliberately staged? Meaning, that the homosexuals are seeking out people of faith, asking for wedding service. Then, when turned down, they run to the media and go into full mock outrage mode.

These stories all sound so similar, that I believe organized campaigns are happening in this area. The stories told about inquiries, about being turned down, and then the reaction of how outraged the lesbians are when told someone won’t service them has become so predictable.


8 posted on 03/19/2015 8:21:05 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: SeekAndFind

“”I couldn’t believe it,” Moffitt explained. “It is a small business, and I thought this was a tight-knit community. We wanted to support local commerce and to get that kind of response was astounding.” “

Good grief.


9 posted on 03/19/2015 8:21:08 AM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: SeekAndFind

America is dead. Stick a fork in it. Where are the other voices challenging the Chamber to realize that what they consider discrimination is truly free exercise of religion?

No one wants to fight.


10 posted on 03/19/2015 8:22:27 AM PDT by panzerkamphwageneinz
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To: SeekAndFind

Perhaps it is time to make the perps of the “legal action” start worrying about things when they are not at work.

Really.

What other course is there?

Is this such a bad thing?


11 posted on 03/19/2015 8:22:54 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: SeekAndFind
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Freedom of Religion used to be an important American value. Obama has done his best to destroy all American values, and destruction is one of the few areas in which that anti-American bigot has succeeded. The level of evil of those who would compel others to violate deeply-held religious beliefs is staggering. I hope the thugs responsible for this will receive justice and learn from it - those lesbians who are whining, those community organizers who are stirring up trouble, and those politicians who are trying to gather more power through an invented issue all deserve whatever consequences may come to them.

12 posted on 03/19/2015 8:23:21 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: SeekAndFind

“”At our Feb. 11 board meeting, we discussed in detail how the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce could ensure this does not happen again. The Chamber Board believes that discrimination in any form is wrong and should not be tolerated. At this meeting, the board agreed that our membership policy must be revised to reflect this. We began the process of re-writing [sic] our policies and guidelines.””

What are the pros and cons for a business to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce?


13 posted on 03/19/2015 8:23:25 AM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: SeekAndFind

There is no slavery in the US.

Ok, maybe there is.

The thing to do is, simply put, a bad job.

Just do a bad job. You can very, VERY subtly hint that your heart may not be into it when you agree to take the job, but if they don’t take the hint, just give them a tape with way too much video of your legs and feet, muffled sound, etc.


14 posted on 03/19/2015 8:23:27 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Hebrews 10:34 for you had compassion on me[a] in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
15 posted on 03/19/2015 8:25:39 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.)
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To: SeekAndFind

So, what legal action is she facing if it’s not illegal? I’m confused.


16 posted on 03/19/2015 8:26:01 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: SeekAndFind
RE :”Although the couple filed the complaint, Ohio is one of 13 states that does not allow same-sex marriages, and Bexley is also a municipality that does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Additionally, the Bexley Chamber of Commerce does not prohibit its members from discriminating based on sexual orientation. “

Key information!

Much better than other cases I have seen here.

17 posted on 03/19/2015 8:26:22 AM PDT by sickoflibs (King Obama : 'The debate is over. The time for talk is over. Just follow my commands you serfs""')
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To: cuban leaf

Ya, intentionally do a bad job for them. Then word will spread in the homosexual community not to patronize that business.

Even though this whole area of “sexual orientation” and “sexual identity” is not a protected class under civil rights laws, the homosexuals behave as if it is. And, their allies in the media present their stories as alleged civil rights violations, when, under the law, these events are not civil rights violations.


18 posted on 03/19/2015 8:27:43 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: SeekAndFind

‘Tolerance’ strikes again!


19 posted on 03/19/2015 8:28:46 AM PDT by 444Flyer (How long O LORD?)
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To: SeekAndFind
Of course, homos can be as prejudiced and hateful as their black hearts desire, and that's just A-OK.

And this blatant hypocrisy is what they masquerade as "justice". Doom on the lot of them.

Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

20 posted on 03/19/2015 8:30:05 AM PDT by Joe Brower (The "American People" are no longer capable of self-governance.)
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