Washington state Attorney General has sued Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers and Gifts, because she declined to service a homosexual "wedding." Citizens of Washington voted for same-sex "marriage" in November, and as a result, the government must enforce the law requiring all Christians in the state to celebrate deviant sexual behavior.
For background, read Colorado Senator Says Christians Who Oppose 'Gay Marriage' Belong in Monastery and also read Oregon Says Christian Baker Must Do Lesbian 'Wedding'
And read about the Colorado baker and myriad other Christians sued in states with same-sex unions/marriage laws.
UPDATE 6/20/15: Homosexuals Force Closure of Iowa Wedding Chapel
-- From "ACLU representing gays refused service in Richland florist case" by Associated Press and KOMO Staff 4/11/13
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the shop owner for discrimination. The complaint was filed in Benton County on Tuesday against Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers and Gifts in Richland.
Ferguson had sent a letter on March 28 asking her to comply with the law, but said Stutzman's attorneys responded Monday saying she would challenge any state action to enforce the law. Washington state voters upheld a same-sex marriage law in November, and the law took effect in December.
The state's anti-discrimination laws were expanded in 2006 to include sexual orientation.
Ferguson seeks a permanent injunction requiring the store to comply with the state's consumer protection laws and seeks at least $2,000 in fines.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "State sues florist over refusing service for gay wedding" by Lornet Turnbull, Seattle Times staff reporter 4/9/13
JD Bristol, attorney for Arlene’s, said his client has many customers and employees who are gay and the claim that she is “discriminating on the basis on sexual orientation is nonsense.”
“This is about gay marriage, it’s not about a person being gay,” Bristol said. “She has a conscientious objection to homosexual marriage, not homosexuality. It violates her conscience.”
The suit stems from a March 1 incident in which Robert Ingersoll went to Arlene’s to purchase flowers for his upcoming wedding [to Curt Freed]. Stutzman refused him service, citing her “relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“I one hundred percent believe this is a freedom-of-expression and free-exercise-of-religion issue,” he said. “What the government is saying here is that you don’t have the right to free religious exercise.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Jesus Has Nothing to Do With It, State Says" by June Williams, Courthouse News Service 4/11/13
"On Friday, March 1, 2013, during regular business hours, Robert Ingersoll entered defendants' retail store with the intention of purchasing flowers for his upcoming wedding," the complaint states.
"At the time, Ms. Stutzman was aware that Mr. Ingersoll is gay and that his upcoming wedding for which he was seeking to purchase flowers would be to another man."
Ingersoll had bought stuff from the florist before, but it refused to sell him floral arrangements for his wedding, the state says.
Ingersoll is not a party to the complaint.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Elderly Christian florist faces thousands in fines for refusing to provide flowers for gay ‘wedding’" by Ben Johnson, LifeSiteNews.com 4/10/13
“He said he decided to get married, and before he got through I grabbed his hand and said, ‘I am sorry. I can't do your wedding because of my relationship with Jesus Christ,’" Stutzman said. She said it was the only wedding she had declined in 37 years.
The state of Washington is seeking $2,000 in fines for every reported violation, as well as a permanent injunction requiring the shop to violate its conscience or stop selling flowers for wedding ceremonies.
[KEPR-TV] station reported Stutzman has received death threats after her simple testimony of faith went viral.
The combination of legalizing same-sex “marriage” and odious “anti-discrimination” laws have faithful Christians saying their freedom of religion is being violated. And the court cases are piling up.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Religious Liberty vs. Anti-Christian Totalitarianism in America
In addition, read Pope Francis Says Gay Agenda is Work of the Devil
