Christian Photographer Hauled before Commission for Refusing Same-Sex Job

LifeSiteNews ^ | 1/30/08 | John Jalsevac

[xtinct]

Same thing happening in MA... notice in bulletin: We only perform marriages for persons who are members of our church and are one with Jesus Christ according to his teachings ... more or less...

Catholic Charities in MA gone out of adoption business... no kidding...

Gay objective appears to be the destruction of Christianity including Catholics instead of legal protections.

[beelzepug]

“...turned down a job to build a cathouse...”

We reserve the right to refuse to service anyone.

[jwalburg]

I remember when landlords weren’t allowed to “discriminate” against live-in couples. I guess this is just an extension. It was only a matter of time.

[PetroniusMaximus]

It always seems to be a “lesbian couple” that instigates these types of situations.

I think they are probably on somebody’s payroll to go out in teams and look for or create legal situations where precedent can be established.

[Cruising Speed]

Yes, just as ‘commercial speech’ is not protected by the first amendment, ‘commercial property’ is not protected by private property laws.

[muawiyah]

Photographers operate in the realm of "freedom of the press".

Might be the local laws that favor homosexuals might find itself kicked out of court once that claim is advanced and upheld.

[vamoose]

Although the Hurley case involved a gay advocacy group it was a free speech case. The court ruled that the parade constituted the speech of the parade organizers, not the participants, and the organizers were within their right to reject the speech of others if they felt it interfered with their message. In the Elane case, the defense would be arguing that the commitment ceremony is the speech of the couple involved and their client is being compelled to participate in that speech. I can see their point, but unfortunately I’m not sure the court will buy it. This is the place where liberal legislation and activist judges have brought us.

[Pablo64]

Ok, so worst case scenario, if they are forced to take a job like this, is there anything that would keep them of doing such a piss-poor job that it would essentially be the same as not doing it at all? I mean, if I was doing the photography (and I used to do wedding videos and some photos) and I felt I had been forced to take a job I didn't want, I would make sure that all of the pictures were out of focus, over and under exposed, crop faces out of the frame, etc., etc. When the customers complain about the job, tell them, "Yeah, well sorry. I must have had a [bad day/equipment failure, etc.] Here's your money back." Or, it might happen that the film accidentally got left too long in the developer (or the memory card got erased if it's a digital camera).

Nobody can make you take a good picture if you don't want to.

[muawiyah]

Canadian import ~ they had all these Mexicans they’ve imported so they thought they ought to import some ideas from Canada, and there it is ~ fascism!

[timm22]

The same-sex couple filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Division, which is now trying Elane Photography under state antidiscrimination laws for sexual orientation discrimination.

Amazing. This woman has not contractual obligation, has no special relationship with the same-sex couple, and as far as I know, photography services are not a public accommodation.

And yet, the state is going to force her to perform a service for private individuals against her will.

It's sickening. The whole premise behind discrimination law is bogus. Private individuals should be allowed to associate with whomever they want on whatever conditions they feel like. It's not the role of the state to make us nice, tolerant people.

What ever happened to freedom in this country?

[JoJo Gunn]

And this is another reason why the silent GOP is dying and some of us just don’t give a damn anymore.

[dljordan]

Just exactly what authority does the “Human Rights Commission” have to drag someone before it?

[Popman]

New Mexico Human Rights Division

Code word for sub dept of the new Democrat fascist party

[rmlew]

That died in 1965.

[redstateconfidential]

“Therein lies the rub”

[Hoodat]

In their complaint the homosexual couple has sought for an injunction against Elane Photography that will forbid them from ever again refusing to photograph a same-sex ceremony.

Fascism at its finest.

[timm22]

Nobody can make you take a good picture if you don't want to.

I'd like to think so, but the fascists behind this suit would probably think otherwise. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they made the photographer give a speech congratulating the couple...and demanded that it be heartfelt.

[Loud Mime]

When I photographed weddings the first question I asked was the date. Then I wised up. I’d chat with them first. If I did not like them I already had a deposit on that date.

[freekitty]

That went out with the movie “GIANT”.