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Judge Rules Against Grandma Florist For Refusing To Service Gay Wedding
The Daily Caller ^ | February 18, 2015 | Casey Harper

Posted on 02/19/2015 6:48:59 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

A Washington grandmother and florist of 40 years who refused to service gay weddings because of her faith will now be forced to arrange flowers for gay ceremonies, a judge ruled Wednesday. On top of that, the woman, Barronelle Stutzman, will have to pay the legal penalties imposed by the judge as well as attorney’s fees.

Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom ruled in a summary judgement that Stutzman violated anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws.

Ekstrom ruled that the gay couple could collect penalties not just from her business, but also from her personally, according to Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group that represented Stutzman. That means she could lose her personal possessions and savings.

Stutzman refused to serve a gay couple in 2013 when they asked her to arrange flowers for their wedding ceremony. The ACLU represented the couple and took her to court.

“The message of these rulings is unmistakable: the government will bring about your personal and professional ruin if you don’t help celebrate same-sex marriage,” ADF Senior Counsel Kristen Waggoner, who argued before the court in December, said in a statement. “The two men had no problem getting the flowers they wanted. They received several offers for free flowers, and the marketplace gives them plenty of options. Laws that are supposed to prohibit discrimination might sound good, but the government has begun to use these laws to hurt people – to force them to conform and to silence and punish them if they don’t violate their religious beliefs on marriage.”

ADF will appeal.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; aclu; adf; barronellestutzman; bentoncounty; christianity; florists; gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; lgbt; persecution; religion; ssm
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1 posted on 02/19/2015 6:48:59 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: SheLion; Eric Blair 2084; -YYZ-; 31R1O; 383rr; AFreeBird; AGreatPer; Alamo-Girl; Alia; altura; ...

So Gay Nanny State PING!


2 posted on 02/19/2015 6:50:47 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Je suis Charlie, you miserable Islamist throwbacks!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Remember when people used to say "it's a free country, right?"

Have you heard anyone use that expression recently?

3 posted on 02/19/2015 6:50:50 PM PST by Steely Tom (Vote GOP for A Slower Handbasket)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Use dead flowers ... advertise them in your brochure ... Special arrangement for couples dead to propagation

The ideal message of our love to each other .. we can NEVER have a baby

Choose the occasion ... it doesn't matter .... the guy said flowers ... not live ones.

Go for it ... you're out of business otherwise.

4 posted on 02/19/2015 6:52:10 PM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but, they're true)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Just give them black flowers.


5 posted on 02/19/2015 6:53:07 PM PST by Politicalkiddo ("Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." -George Washington)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
This is easy to solve for a florist,a photographer,a bakery,etc.Just do a lousy job...horrible flowers,out of focus photos,inedible cake...and,when the complaint is lodged apologize profusely (of course you don't *mean* it) and give them a refund.
6 posted on 02/19/2015 6:54:09 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Obama;America's First "Third World" President)
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To: Steely Tom
Remember when people used to say "it's a free country, right?" Have you heard anyone use that expression recently?

Welfare recipients. Free food. Free Money. Free housing.

7 posted on 02/19/2015 6:56:49 PM PST by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
This stupid “judgment” and the politicians who enacted such a stupid law really aggravate this here simple man. People should be able to serve whomever they wish, and let the free market sort it out!!
8 posted on 02/19/2015 6:57:04 PM PST by RAY (God Bless the USA!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

it’s time to start getting some as-wipes’ attention


9 posted on 02/19/2015 6:59:02 PM PST by grandpa jones (obama delenda est)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Take their filthy lucre. Make the arrangements. Drop them off at the wrong location or show up 2 hours after the wedding. Give them a refund later.


10 posted on 02/19/2015 6:59:24 PM PST by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

This is why we all need to be judgment proof, using the tools in the law to prevent just this kind of thing. LLC etc. are not sufficient, your personal assets also need to be secured and hidden.

I have had 3 incidents since I have retired that have brought that home to me. The latest was when we took down a pair of bounty hunters who forced their way into our home. One of them was seriously hurt and has huge medical bills. Our lawyer told us that inquiries were being made about the property and other assets, none of which are in our name. We can’t hide our Social Security, but we move the money offshore as soon as we can. We do our best to insure there is little nothing to attach.


11 posted on 02/19/2015 6:59:44 PM PST by Starwolf
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Charge them up the you know what, then appeal the decision again and again and again....


12 posted on 02/19/2015 7:01:15 PM PST by Fungi (Evolution is piece by piece over billions of years. At what point did a precursor become a human?)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Disincorporate.


13 posted on 02/19/2015 7:02:15 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

How is that not chattel slavery?


14 posted on 02/19/2015 7:03:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Seems the First Amendment applies only to homosexuals.

APPEAL!

Thank God for the ADF


15 posted on 02/19/2015 7:05:27 PM PST by onedoug
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To: Fungi

Emm. They like things up the you know what, so they may not complain...


16 posted on 02/19/2015 7:06:47 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter (Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Let's take a history break to cool off a minute ...

5 Myths of Tarring and Feathering
Tarring and feathering undoubtedly caused pain and a lot of discomfort and inconvenience. But above all it was supposed to be embarrassing for the victim. Mobs performed the act in public as a humiliation and a warning—to the victim and anyone else—not to arouse the community again. There are no examples of people in Revolutionary America dying from being tarred and feathered.
I feel better knowing that.


17 posted on 02/19/2015 7:10:12 PM PST by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: Starwolf

“We can’t hide our social security...”

The only creditor, judgment or otherwise, who can dip into your social security is Uncle Sam. 15% of the gross to IRS for money due for example. Defaulted student loans can get a cut too. I’m sure other Fed bodies can get some too.


18 posted on 02/19/2015 7:18:13 PM PST by Sasparilla (If you want peace, prepare for war.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter
You're right. I forgot about that, silly me and it was so obvious. This crap has got to stop or we are doomed.
19 posted on 02/19/2015 7:18:27 PM PST by Fungi (Evolution is piece by piece over billions of years. At what point did a precursor become a human?)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Or simply say, “Things are booming. I’m too busy”.


20 posted on 02/19/2015 7:23:52 PM PST by punchamullah
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