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Christian Prosecuted: Refused to Photograph Homosexual ‘Commitment Ceremony’
National Catholic Register ^

Posted on 03/11/2008 1:00:09 PM PDT by No Dems 2004

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As a Christian, Elaine Huguenin is against efforts to legitimize same-sex “marriage.”

So, when the Albuquerque photographer was asked via e-mail in September 2006 to photograph a “commitment ceremony” for two women, Huguenin declined. That was the end of the matter, she thought.

But Huguenin didn’t take into account New Mexico’s anti-discrimination laws. Instead of hiring another photographer, one of the lesbians, Vanessa Willock, filed a civil complaint against Huguenin’s company, Elane Photography.

Now, in one of the first cases of its kind in the state, a three-member tribunal of New Mexico’s Human Rights Commission is considering the complaint brought forward by New Mexico’s Human Rights Bureau, operated by the Labor Relations Division of the state’s Department of Workforce Solutions.

The tribunal will decide whether Huguenin should pay actual and punitive damages to Willock because of her decision not to take pictures of the homosexual ceremony.

Established in 1969 by the New Mexico Legislature to enforce state law preventing discrimination based on race and gender in employment, housing and public accommodation, the human rights commission is taking its first steps to incorporate a 2006 expansion of the act to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: christianpersecution; gaymarriage; gayrights; homosexualactivists; homosexualagenda; homosexuals; noshoenoshirtnoservc; persecution; pervertpower; perverts
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To: bpjam

Smart photographers find other reasons to turn down the project.


41 posted on 03/11/2008 1:42:38 PM PDT by Sherman Logan (Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. - A. Lincoln)
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To: The_Republican

I think that might be Mr. Willock!


42 posted on 03/11/2008 1:43:54 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: No Dems 2004
Christophobic

The lesbos are suffering from Christophobia. Why are they not celebrating diversity now? They are clearly discriminating against the Christian, Jewish and Muslim beliefs that homosexuality is deviant behavior and is to be abhorred by these particular religions.

43 posted on 03/11/2008 1:44:19 PM PDT by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals Crazy!)
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To: Brilliant

“Why did she tell them the reason? Just say “No.””

and why not? would that everyone would stand up for what is right!!


44 posted on 03/11/2008 1:46:26 PM PDT by elpadre
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To: Brilliant

does it say that she told them why she was declining? i don’t see that part...maybe I missed something..


45 posted on 03/11/2008 1:46:50 PM PDT by adopt4Christ (The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.)
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To: No Dems 2004
...photographer was asked via e-mail...

No proof as to who actually sent or replied to the e-mail. Case closed........

46 posted on 03/11/2008 1:47:03 PM PDT by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: No Dems 2004

The law permits people to discriminate against Republicans in lodging and employment. It even didn’t permit additional charges when there was violence and vandalism targeted at families because they were Republican.


47 posted on 03/11/2008 1:47:57 PM PDT by weegee (I hold out HOPE that neither Obama or Clinton will get the office to push thru their Marxist plans.)
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To: No Dems 2004

Whatever happened to the Constitutional freedom of association?


48 posted on 03/11/2008 1:49:58 PM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: No Dems 2004

I would refer you all to a post on my Blog today about a so-called “hate” crime where a young hetero shot and killed a homosexual in school.

You need to scroll down to the bottom of the post but it’s a story that pins the blame of hate crime on the kid that did the shooting but there’s waaaaay more to the story than was reported.

http://patfish.blogspot.com/2008/03/true-crime-two-college-coeds-murdered.html


49 posted on 03/11/2008 1:50:31 PM PDT by Fishtalk (If you liked the above post, remember I've got a Blog you might like to visit.)
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To: BuffaloJack

If Sen. Sheets Byrd’s fellow Klansmen wanted to have a wedding in full dress, should a photographer be required to accept their job?

What about for a 70 year old marrying the youngest teen allowed by law?

What about for a non-legally binding polygamy marriage?


50 posted on 03/11/2008 1:50:46 PM PDT by weegee (I hold out HOPE that neither Obama or Clinton will get the office to push thru their Marxist plans.)
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To: No Dems 2004
This is sickening.

Elaine should have a message at her place of work and on her business cards that states:

"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."

I ran into a situation similar to this in Dillon, MT. A woman who ran a book store wanted us to print up some paintings(we owned a printing and office supply store at the time) that she had painted. She brought them over and they were very revealing (full frontal nudity) and I told her that I would not print them.

She became incensed because the next closest store was 70 miles away. She threatened to sue...I had her look at the sign displayed in the shop saying, "We resereve the right to refuse service to anyone, at any time."

She talked to a local lawyer who utimately advised her to drive the 70 miles and that was the end of it.

51 posted on 03/11/2008 1:54:09 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: BuffaloJack

The law cannot force an artist to do a “good job” if his heart isn’t in the work.


52 posted on 03/11/2008 1:56:43 PM PDT by weegee (I hold out HOPE that neither Obama or Clinton will get the office to push thru their Marxist plans.)
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To: No Dems 2004
I pray that average Americans will wake up and realize that noble-sounding 'Human Rights Commissions' are just a subtle form of tyranny and a means to subvert the individual rights supposedly guaranteed by our constitution.

This 'case' is absurd on it's face and shouldn't even be entertained by any authority in a free society. Sadly, we've allowed media manipulation, Democrats and citizen apathy to help this kind of social cancer (homosexual 'rights') to metastasize and now, to accuse a wedding photographer, Elaine Huguenin, of being both a lawbreaker and a bigot - for simply declining a telephone request from a lesbian 'couple' to photograph their whatever-it-was. As if no other photographer in Albuquerque couldn't do the same job. The right of the individual in America to choose who they will or won't work for when they run their own business is being destroyed in this instance, unless this New Mexico commission decides on the side of fairness and common sense. Hardly a safe bet.

Elaine Huguenin has as much right to refuse an offer of photography work from a couple of lesbians as they do of only hiring homosexual entertainers or anyone else they choose. That Huguenin based her decision to decline the offer of work (from lesbians) on her religious beliefs should make her unassailable but now makes her a target of power-hungry homosexuals and their Marxist henchmen, serving on these ridiculous 'human rights' commissions, taking away the rights of citizens who don't comply with Big Brother's directives and ever-expanding definitions of 'discrimination' against favored 'minority' groups, such as homosexuals, who are never, ever, cited for their 'discrimination' against straights. The glaring double standard and kangaroo court ambiance is palpable here .

Wake up America, before they come for you and it's too late, because there won't be anyone left to defend you. If you doubt me, ask Elaine Huguenin.

53 posted on 03/11/2008 1:57:02 PM PDT by Jim Scott (Time Heals)
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To: joebuck

Can an observant Jew turn down work just because an event occurs on the Sabbath?


54 posted on 03/11/2008 1:58:30 PM PDT by weegee (I hold out HOPE that neither Obama or Clinton will get the office to push thru their Marxist plans.)
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To: UCANSEE2
So, this Willock is saying “gee. I want the photographer who disagrees with what I am doing, making my wedding album.”?

"I'm here... and I'm in your face." That's the mantra.

55 posted on 03/11/2008 2:01:36 PM PDT by weegee (I hold out HOPE that neither Obama or Clinton will get the office to push thru their Marxist plans.)
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To: Jim Scott

ALL of political correctness is a wedge to impose Orwellian thoughtcrimes on the public. Dissent is not tolerated. Your antiquated religious views are not tolerated under the Socialist State. The Left is Socialist.


56 posted on 03/11/2008 2:03:44 PM PDT by weegee (I hold out HOPE that neither Obama or Clinton will get the office to push thru their Marxist plans.)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
It may be a freedom of assembly issue, or simply a violation of one's right to contract or not to contract. If this injustice stands, then it opens the door to some very queer legal questions.

Does a flaming homosexual photographer have to capture the moment of every traditional evangelical Christian wedding so long as the bride and groom demand service? Can a babysitter turn down a job if the couple seeking service is gay, when all other instances allow for the person to babysit whoever he or she wants so long as both parties agree? Can a hair stylist force a person to get a haircut and pay for it if he sits down only to discover that the stylist in a transsexual, and then proceeds to get up and leave before services commence?

The bottom line is that people should not be forced to either associate with or contract with people for whatever reason they want. Just because someone doesn't like another person's face should be reason enough. Besides, who wants to force an unwilling person to perform a service for them? It is clear that the homosexual agenda is proving itself to be what many of us have known all along. They don't want equality. They are demanding that we condone and embrace it. If we don't, we will be sued and/or vilified. That is why they don't like home schools or private Christian schools. If they can mandate brainwashing the next generations with public schools, then the opposition will fade dramatically over time.

These groups often hurt their cause when they push the envelope too far though. Look at how many states have a ban on same sex marriage, all thanks to Massachusetts.

It is time to go on the offensive and restore the old definition of tolerance. Sure you are free to be a pervert, but I am free to disagree with it as much as I please. AND NO, MY CHILDREN WILL NOT EVER ACCEPT IT AS OK OR NORMAL!! I am extending my opposition into the next generation by instilling the Word of God in my children from day 1. The government can forget about trying to raise my children, I don't care if the school district doesn't get their stinking money.

57 posted on 03/11/2008 2:03:59 PM PDT by Clump (Your family may not be safe, but at least their library records will be.)
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To: Fishtalk

So, an underage boy shot and killed a “sexual harasser”? Why was the harassment allowed to go this far? If the 14 year old boy had hugged a female student, he would be a Sex Offender according to some teachers. Oh, I forgot....Master Race.


58 posted on 03/11/2008 2:05:28 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Congressman Billybob

How about BOTH being in the nude?


59 posted on 03/11/2008 2:14:06 PM PDT by dcwusmc (We need to make government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub.)
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To: No Dems 2004

This sounds disturbingly like the Canadian Human Rights Commission that’s ‘investigating’ Mark Steyn. I thought we didn’t yet have this kind of thing in the US, but it looks like I was wrong. In Steyn’s case, he’s managing to embarrass the Commission and its Star Chamber-like proceedings. I wonder if there’s any chance that this woman could do the same.


60 posted on 03/11/2008 2:21:02 PM PDT by John Jorsett (scam never sleeps)
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