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William769

(55,124 posts)
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 02:30 PM Apr 2013

Washington State Sues Florist for Refusing Gay Couple's Wedding

The Washington State Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against an eastern Washington florist who said her belief in Jesus did not allow her to provide flowers for the wedding of a gay couple, reports the Seattle Times.

According to the 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 lawsuit contends that Stutzman violated the state's antidiscrimination laws when the shop owner refused to provide flowers for Robert Ingersoll's wedding to his husband. The state is seeking $2,000 in penalties and a permanent injunction requiring the florist to comply with state law that recognizes marriage equality, reports the Times.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/04/10/washington-state-sues-florist-refusing-gay-couples-wedding

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MNBrewer

(8,462 posts)
1. As her "Personal Lord and Savior" said
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 07:22 PM
Apr 2013

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin
yea, thou shalt not arrange them for gay weddings, nor yea verily for lesbian weddings either.
For I say unto ye, whosoever shall be a spiteful bigot to queers in my name, for to him belongs the Kingdom of Heaven....


NOT!!!!

Her "Lord" would be so proud *eyeroll*

pinto

(106,886 posts)
2. "Just days earlier, the AG's office issued a letter asking Arlene's to comply with state law."
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 08:59 PM
Apr 2013

They had clear notice.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
3. So she believes that Jesus does not want her to sell flowers to gay men if they are
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 09:29 PM
Apr 2013

going to get married?.

Really?


There is no word or phrase on earth that can convey utterly pathetic that is.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
4. Well, I certainly hope that interested individuals "YELP" and "Angie's List" the living shit out of
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 10:07 PM
Apr 2013

this bigoted florist.

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