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Florist refuses attorney general’s options to settle lawsuit over same-sex weddings
The Washington Times ^ | February 22, 2015 | Valerie Richardson

Posted on 02/23/2015 7:32:36 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has offered florist Barronelle Stutzman a deal: She can cater to same-sex weddings or she can stop doing weddings altogether.

Of course, there’s always a third option: She can go out of business.

Ms. Stutzman, the 70-year-old owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, is opting for none of the above.

“Your offer reveals that you don’t really understand me or what this conflict is all about,” Ms. Stutzman said in a letter to Mr. Ferguson. “It’s about freedom, not money. I certainly don’t relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my freedom to honor God in doing what I do best is more important.”

Ms. Stutzman rejected Friday a settlement agreement offered by Mr. Ferguson that would have required her to pay $2,001 in damages and legal fees after a judge ruled last week that she violated state law by declining to provide services for a same-sex wedding.

“My primary goal has always been to bring about an end to the Defendants’ unlawful conduct and to make clear that I will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” Mr. Ferguson said in a statement.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; arlenesflowers; attorneygeneral; barronellestutzman; christianity; gaymarriage; gaystapo; homosexualagenda; lawsuit; lgbt; persecution; religion; richland; ssm
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1 posted on 02/23/2015 7:32:36 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 02/23/2015 7:33:12 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Je suis Charlie, you miserable Islamist throwbacks!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“Kneel before Zod!”

Every knee shall bow ... but not to Zod.


3 posted on 02/23/2015 7:34:21 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (The dog days are over /The dog days are done/Can you hear the horses? /'Cause here they come)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

What “damages” could there possibly be?


4 posted on 02/23/2015 7:36:13 PM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Attack of the Diversity Fascists.


5 posted on 02/23/2015 7:38:32 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

This is truly incredible.

Telling a business who they will work for with a “gun” to their heads.


6 posted on 02/23/2015 7:41:37 PM PST by headstamp 2
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

please explain how the fedgov has the right to specify how a private corporation is run

private corporate entities are roughly the same as people.

the fedgov cannot dictate how a company conducts its business any more then it can tell you what to think or do


7 posted on 02/23/2015 7:42:11 PM PST by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Gees! There has to be a Gay prancing florist some where in Washington that would have been “Just Delighted” to provide flowers for the Gay wedding!


8 posted on 02/23/2015 7:43:21 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 ((VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!))
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Go baby go!!! Never relent, never give up, never acquiesce to intolerance, bullying and unmitigated hatred. Go baby go.
9 posted on 02/23/2015 7:45:12 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

Hey, AG Bobbi Fergie and Co., get ready for the incoming tide.


10 posted on 02/23/2015 7:48:05 PM PST by RedHeeler
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Bob Ferguson is a stinking bully.


11 posted on 02/23/2015 8:07:56 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Red_Devil 232
I'm willing to get that just about every bakery and every florist has been called by an organized team of seminar callers. It goes like this:

"Betty's Floral arrangements -- how may I help you?"
"Uhhh, my name is Steve. My lover is Barry. We're getting married in a few weeks, and ... uhhhhh ... we were wondering if you'd do the flowers?"
"Certainly, sir! I'd be happy to!"
"Oh. Uhhhhh. Never mind. We've decided to call it off."

But, on rare occaisions, a business will respond:

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid I don't feel comfortable with that. But my cousin has a wonderful flower shop and she'd be very happy to help you. Would you like her number?"
"Oh. Uhhhhh. Never mind. We've decided to call it off."

And at that point, the nice woman who turned down the business is officially targetted. She'll receive a visit soon, and her life will never be the same.

It may take 2000 phone calls, but they will find the Christians who don't wish to participate. They are relentless.

12 posted on 02/23/2015 8:08:00 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (The dog days are over /The dog days are done/Can you hear the horses? /'Cause here they come)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Thanks for the ping!


13 posted on 02/23/2015 8:17:52 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

She should never settle or admit wrong-doing. The government is the one that is wrong here.


14 posted on 02/23/2015 8:22:17 PM PST by GeronL
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

What makes homosexuals any diferent than pedophiles or beastialists? From an aberration, abnormal, dysfunctional point of view?


15 posted on 02/23/2015 8:25:52 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: headstamp 2

Same idiots tell govt bodies they can’t work with Christian groups.


16 posted on 02/23/2015 8:26:48 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“I will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” Mr. Ferguson said in a statement.”

But discrimination based on religious belief, that’s OK.


17 posted on 02/23/2015 8:37:50 PM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: sten

I agree. However in this case its a state government.


18 posted on 02/23/2015 8:41:08 PM PST by AnalogReigns (Real life is ANALOG...)
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To: AnalogReigns

local, state or federal, they have no legal right to dictate how a corporation runs their business or who they serve or under which terms


19 posted on 02/23/2015 8:44:25 PM PST by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“My primary goal has always been to bring about an end to the Defendants’ unlawful conduct and to make clear that I will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” Mr. Ferguson said in a statement.

To summarize: You must be forced to participate in same-sex "weddings" - otherwise you are not entitled to earn a living. You do not have a right to be a person of faith who disagrees with this lifestyle and you must be shunned and forced out to the street, fined, etc. due to being who you are - we will not tolerate your right to live your own life. (Mr. Ferguson - do you fail to see your own hypocrisy and how your standards when applied to themselves do not work? She isn't harming anyone - she isn't taking their money for services she does no feel comfortable providing. She isn't harassing them. How about you stop harassing her?)

20 posted on 02/23/2015 9:05:34 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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