WA Ping
Posted on 05/18/2013 12:33:25 PM PDT by marshmallow
RICHLAND, Wash. (BP) -- A florist who was told by the state of Washington she must provide her services for a gay wedding is countersuing the state, saying she has served gay customers her entire career and is concerned the state's position on gay weddings will harm religious freedom.
The countersuit by Arlene's Flowers came weeks after Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the florist when its owner, Barronelle Stutzman, declined to design a wedding floral arrangement for a longtime customer who is gay. Washington legalized gay marriage last year.
The countersuit, filed by the group Alliance Defending Freedom, says Stutzman has employed gay people and happily served gay customers, including the gay man, Robert Ingersoll, who wanted the floral arrangement. But her Christian faith precludes her from providing her services to a gay wedding, the countersuit says.
"Arlene's Flowers has never refused to sell flowers to someone simply because of sexual orientation," the countersuit says. "But because of Barronelle Stutzman's Christian faith, she cannot as a matter of conscience participate in or facilitate a same-sex wedding by using her creative skills to personally craft floral arrangements to decorate the wedding. The Attorney General's attempt to use state law to compel her and Arlene's Flowers to do so violates the state and federal constitutions."
(Excerpt) Read more at bpnews.net ...
She needs all the help she can get. If you are able to give go here and contribute to this cause.
It’s also evidence that they are a gullible and wishful lot: they automatically assume that the state recognition of a legal contract (marriage license) equates to complete and total societal acceptance. WRONG-O.
Ping to a Washington story.
Should she also be required to provide an arrangement for a Satanic wedding? Klan wedding?
Have to apply the Reagan principle. Bankrupt them. If we had the resources to sue every left wing group, eventually they will stop. This is why they need government funding for everything. The ideology doesn’t stand on its own.
That’s what Reagan did to the Soviets.
Sue the bastards up one side and down the other.
Would you take your spouse to a gay bar on tranny nite?
I would take the whole church, repeatedly. With smiles and prayers.
It’s also evidence that they are a gullible and wishful lot: they automatically assume that the state recognition of a legal contract (marriage license) equates to complete and total societal acceptance. WRONG-O.
You nailed it perfectly.
It’s also evidence that they are a gullible and wishful lot: they automatically assume that the state recognition of a legal contract (marriage license) equates to complete and total societal acceptance. WRONG-O.
And they are arrogant beyond words.
Suppose you don’t want to do the wedding because their credit is bad. Tough. They are a specially privileged victim group.
They can do whatever they want.
Same for every other victim group. No matter what your reason for rejecting them, they can ALWAYS cry that it’s because they are a member of a victim group.
Gay bars should allow Christians to come in to spread the word. What’s good for the gay goose......
Teachers HAVE been making sure kids aren’t taught the Constitution in government schools. And if they are, it’s the wrong teachings (ie outdated, living/breathing crap).
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I’m so happy to see national support (financial and spiritual) for Barronelle’s fight for religious freedom. I do wonder if she regrets having become so chummy with the plaintiff (in the private lawsuit) over the years, even as she knew the arrangements were being prepared for the other party in a homosexual relationship. Was she not opposed to the sin of homosexuality when it occurred outside of marriage? Did she have no compunction at all over facilitating that relationship at the premarital stage? I appreciate her courage of standing up for the traditional institution of marriage, but I wonder if this situation would have occurred had she been a bit cooler to the homosexual clientele (may be difficult to do in the florist business). Anyway, I typically pass by her business once or twice a day and hope to see it thrive in the coming years. Also looking forward to the big slap down of Washington State’s squishy Attorney General.
I would tell the regulators: either I do business with whomever I choose or I’m closing and holding a press conference to say why.
You Close Down = They Win
WA Ping
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