Washington state's Attorney General has filed suit against a florist who refused to provide flowers for a gay couple's wedding, citing her belief in Jesus.
"According to the [Seattle] Times, attorney general Bob Ferguson filed the lawsuit in Benton County Superior Court Tuesday against Barronelle Stutzman, who owns Arlene's Flowers and Gifts in Richland, Wash., after the florist refused to serve a longtime gay customer, citing her 'relationship with Jesus Christ.' Just days earlier, the AG's office issued a letter asking Arlene's to comply with state law.
"Under the Consumer Protection Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against customers on the basis of sexual orientation," Ferguson said in a statement. "If a business provides a product or service to opposite-sex couples for their weddings, then it must provide same-sex couples the same product or service."
The suit argues that Stutzman violated the state's laws by refusing to provide the gay couple with flowers, and is seeking $2,000 in penalties along with a permanent injunction requiring her to comply with state law, which recognizes marriage equality. Stutzman attorney charges that his client's religious beliefs are being targeted, as she has gay and lesbian employees and customers.
"This is about gay marriage, it’s not about a person being gay," defense attorney JD Bristol told the Times. "She has a conscientious objection to homosexual marriage, not homosexuality. It violates her conscience."
Aaah, the old "I'm not against gays. Some of my best friends are gay" defense. Of course, if she's so gay-friendly, it makes even less since for her to turn down a gay couple. Regardless of her personal reasons, she is the owner of a business that serves the public and should follow the law.
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