BELLEVUE, Wash. – A florist who was sued for refusing to provide services for a same sex-wedding says she was exercising her First Amendment rights, but justices from Washington’s Supreme Court questioned whether ruling in her favor would mean other businesses could turn away customers based on racial or other grounds.
The court heard arguments Tuesday in the case against Barronelle Stutzman, a Richland, Washington, florist who was fined for denying service to a gay couple in 2013.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson says the state and federal constitutions confer no right to discriminate against people.
Justice Steven Gonzalez compared the florist’s action it to racial discrimination, asking what would happen if someone proclaimed a sincerely held religious belief not to serve interracial couples.
Kristen Waggoner, an attorney for the florist, said this case was different because it involves Stutzman’s artistic expression protected by the First Amendment and she should not be compelled to support for same-sex marriage.
Via the AP
Time to give it up. Social conservatives lost as usual on trying to prevent equal rights to LBTQs and trying to get a pass on being cruel to gays. Game over.