Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 06/30/2005 6:26:17 PM PDT by wagglebee
A lesbian couple filed a discrimination complaint against a family-run inn because the Roman Catholic owners said they would be reluctant to plan and host a civil union ceremony.
The inn owners, identified only as Jim and Mary, are charged with violating Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act.
The complaint by Susan Parker, filed with Vermont's Human Rights Commission, is based on one phone call with Jim.
Jim said he did not refuse Parker's request but explained that because of his beliefs about marriage, he would have difficulty putting his heart behind the project.
The inn owners, who will host seven or eight wedding receptions this year, usually are involved in the entire process of planning the event, acting as a wedding coordinator.
They run the 24-unit facility with their eight children and have their family residence on the same property.
Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based public-interest law firm representing the family, says that for one recent wedding reception, Jim spent about 40 hours with the couple prior to the wedding day.
Liberty Counsel – which filed a response to the charge, asking that it be dismissed – pointed out Jim said that if Parker still desired to hold the reception, he would be willing to meet with her to discuss possible arrangements.
The law firm argues there must be an exemption to the discrimination charge based on the free exercise of religion, free association and the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children.
Commenting on the case, Mathew D. Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, said it "seeks to authorize the government to become thought police."
"This case also illustrates the radical nature of the same-sex agenda – to target a family-owned inn based upon one telephone call wherein the operator clearly admits that he could not put his heart into a same-sex civil union ceremony," he said. "Forget tolerance – this case is about forcing others to endorse same-sex unions."
Vermont's Human Rights Commission only has legal authority to investigate complaints, negotiate settlements and bring action in court. If illegal discrimination is proven to a judge and jury, the court can impose fines or monetary damages.
In 1994, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that a Roman Catholic owner of a printing company could assert, as a defense to a claim of discrimination, that printing "pro-choice" flyers would cause the owner to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs.
Yes that's it. Cut and run. Thank God the Founding Fathers had more guts than that.
Impenitent, lezbo dikes taking over in my home/church?
I do think NOT!
You may be underground in a home church but even now in some communities homechurchs are not permitted to meet. We will be in a full fledged culture war...and we will lose.
Either we have a federal system or we do not. I don't know what the founding fathers have to do with this. Perhaps they would have moved to a state more in tune with thier beliefs or they would have lobbied to change the state from within.
They wouldn't have run to the courts to change anything.
Not THIS citizen...
(sound of slide racking...)
We have religious freedom in this country. Just 20 years ago this would have been laughed out of court. 200 years ago the happy couple would have been burned at the stake.
We still do have religious freedom. No one is binding the inkeepers to Vermont. Admitidly, a small state with questionable laws. Sucks to live in Vermont, but there are many other states with beautiful countrysides where a pure B&B could be located.
It sounds like these inkeepers were just itching to get in the victim spotlight.
....more than likely it was a setup!
I admit this is a big question, but where does the idea of people and state's right's begin and federal policies end?
Because Vermont's law is not the law of the land. There are other states with different laws. I believe our forefathers antipated this in the formation of our republic.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
These sodomites are THUGS.
In school we were taught not to push our wills upon other people and be respectful of the beliefs of others.
Does not work for these bullies.
If it were my inn, and the courts forced me to do this, I think I would have a fire the night before the ceremony.
Don't be ridiculous. We will easily win. Once the government begins to go after churches it will lose its legitimacy and will fall.
Nice name, nice tagline.
Hit them with the RICO act. If they conspired to set up the RC owners send them to the clinker
They're within months of that scenario in Canada.
So they should give up their home and business because fags and lesbos decide to push their perverse agenda? Get real.
I guarantee these women are, every day, looking for a reason to sue; to strike a blow for their cause.
The really stupid thing is, there are lots of people that would be fine with live and let live until people (like these women) go around making trouble and screwing people who are doing nothing to them. This "in your face" crap attitude is counter productive. They then whine that everyone is a bigot, etc. & seem to have no clue they bring 90% of this hatred on themselves.
A little consideration and discretion go a long way towards getting people to be tolerant. Oh, I forgot, they don't have to be tolerant. They are gay/leftists.
Excuse me...isn't that what the homosexual activists are doing?! You sound mighty liberal.
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