Austin Pride Parade...Maybe Ted should shut up about another state's values. Glass houses and all that.
Posted on 01/16/2016 2:46:47 PM PST by kindred
"All Robert and I want is the freedom to peacefully live and work faithfully on our family farm and according to what God says about marriage without fear of government punishment. The America we love is one where we respect each other's differences, and the government still protects the freedom to have those differences. Others have the freedom to say or not say what they want to about marriage, and that's all we are asking for, as well." -Cynthia Gifford
(New York)—[CBN News] A New York court has upheld a state decision to fine a farm couple for refusing to host a lesbian wedding on their property. (Photo via LifeSiteNews)
The New York Division of Human Rights ruled in July 2014 that Cynthia and Robert Gifford were guilty of "sexual orientation discrimination" for refusing to allow Melisa and Jennifer McCarthy to use their "place of public accommodation" for their same-sex ceremony.
The Giffords said doing so would violate their conscience, but invited the two women to use their property for their reception site.
The state agency has ordered the Giffords to pay a fine of $10,000 plus $3,000 in damages and ordered them to implement re-education training classes.
On Thursday, the New York Supreme Court appellate division upheld the order and fines.
Melisa McCarthy originally called Cynthia Gifford in 2012 to ask about the use of Gifford's farm for her upcoming same-sex ceremony. [Because of her Christian faith's teachings on marriage, Cynthia politely told McCarthy that she and her husband don't host and coordinate same-sex ceremonies but left open an invitation to visit the farm to consider it as a potential reception site. Instead, McCarthy and her partner filed a complaint with the Division of Human Rights.]
Caleb Dalton, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom who represented the Giffords, said "the government went after both this couple's freedom and their ability to make a living simply for adhering to their faith on their own property."
"The court should have rejected this unwarranted and unconstitutional government intrusion, so we will consult with our client regarding appeal," he said.
It doesn’t just happen in NY. So what? It happens in NY which means NY has terrible values. That is also happens elsewhere means those places also have terrible values.
You think this just happens in NY? Have you not been reading on FR the past few years on all the bakeries, pizza places and florists all over the nation who’ve had suits brought against them?
Austin Pride Parade...Maybe Ted should shut up about another state's values. Glass houses and all that.
Cruz nuts are on a jihad against New York State yesterday and today. They forget just how see-through their own glass houses are.
This country is in trouble across the land.
So NY had terrible democrats and terrible republicans, sound like a state with terrible values.
I wouldn’t be put in jail for defying the court. I’d be put in jail for delivering some bullets into the brains of the homo-nazi perverts that tried such crap on me.
Like a lot of cowardly freepers, I notice you don’t even put up your own state on your home page. Why? Afraid we might embarrass you with your own state’s gays/libs/lesbians/corrupt officials?
As a Cruz supporter and someone who lives in Texas, I’d have applauded Trump if he said, “I don’t like Austin values”.
Serious? Wow. But, do they actually have the legal means to seize your personal stuff, or are they just threatening to?
You may want to reread the first paragraph. You quoted one of the defendants.
New York values.
Thank you! I have seen my state sink deeper and deeper into the abyss. My ancestors purchased and settled several hundred acres here in NY in 1790. My family still lives in the area and in one of the last conservative parts of the state. It’s beautiful here. But we feel powerless except for a few locally controlled things. Probably leaving soon when we can. Incidentally, I know a woman through work that is marrying another woman this summer. They attempted to plan their ceremony at a certain place that said no. At least they said “ok it’s against your religious views†and moved on. Why would a person want to get married where they aren’t welcome? That never made sense to me. When Ted Cruz talked about NY values and people acted shocked, nobody here in NY was. We all know what he meant.
NY Government.....is at play....LIBERAL New York Government....just like the Liberal Government that runs New York....City.
my oh my.
Amen and Amen!
You’re kidding, right? They have the power of the state. They can send the sheriff tomorrow to throw all my belongings out of my house if I didn’t pay up.
This is why we are all here as conservatives - because we loathe the extreme power of the state. We’re all guilty of allowing the state to grow out of control.
Melisa and Jennifer McCarthy are shockingly malicious thugs, and no punishment would be too severe for them. I don't want to know what they do in privacy or with people who voluntarily participate in their ceremony, but to compel Americans to participate against their will is pure evil.
18 U.S. Code SS 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law
"Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States . . . shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death."
I'd be okay with executing the predatory plaintiffs and the judge who abused his power to punish these Christians. I'd rather see them repent, but failing that, I'd like to (lawfully) make an example of them so this degree of miscarriage of justice will never again occur. The law should not be used as a hammer to deny people the free exercise of their religion. Compelling participation is thuggish and has nothing to do with the proper scope of judicial action. Pro-buggery thuggery does not belong in a free country.
Actually, I think you have terrible values.
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