What gives the state the right to force a private company to violate its religious beliefs? You can support Arlene’s Flowers here.

SEATTLE — State Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Tuesday filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Arlene’s Flowers & Gifts, a Richland florist that refused to supply flowers to the same-sex marriage of a longtime customer.

Ferguson said he sent a March 28 letter to owner Barronelle Stutzman asking her to reconsider and supply flowers to customer Robert Ingersoll. Through an attorney, Stutzman declined to change her position.

“As Attorney General, it is my job to enforce the laws of the state of Washington,” said Ferguson. “Under the Consumer Protection Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation. 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 by Ferguson is bound to revive a warning raised by opponents of marriage equality in last fall’s Washington Voter’s Pamphlet statement against Referendum 74. Foes stated:

“People who disagree with this new definition (of marriage) could find themselves facing sanctions, as has occurred elsewhere. Church groups have lost their tax exemptions. Small businesses were sued. Wedding professionals have been fined.”

The supporters of same-sex marriage, in their rebuttal, stated: “Lawsuits haven’t increased in states with same-sex marriage. Liberty and pursuit of happiness are core American values.”

An employee at Arlene’s Flowers and Gifts said late Tuesday that Stutzman was not present, adding: “None of us will have any comment.” Last month, Stutzman told KEPR-TV in the Tri-Cities:

“He (Ingersoll) 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.’ We hugged each other and he left, and I assumed it was the end of the story.”

Ingersoll and his partner, Curt Freed, were decade-long customers of Arlene’s Flowers & Gifts. They went online with the refusal and the story went viral. Stutzman refused to change her position, saying: “It’s a personal conviction. It’s not a matter of being right or wrong. It’s my belief.”

Keep reading…http://weaselzippers.us/2013/04/10/washi...ve-gay-wedding/

Freedom of association is a dead concept in today's America.

You have to ask yourself it this were a Muslim florist, would the attorney file a lawsuit? No, because it would be against their religious belief.
It's just Christians that are persecuted.

This happened in Indiana a year or so ago. A Christian owned bakery refused to supply cupcakes for a gay event at a local university. What wasn't mentioned in the media when the news broke was the 'Cookie' shop the gays went to didn't even make cupcakes, which is how it was eventually thrown out. It came out that the business was targeted knowing it was 'Christian' owned, that they would have to refuse (they don't make cupcakes), and then accuse them of hating gays. It worked at first until the truth got out there and then the story just died a quick death.

My point being that we're going to start seeing more and more of this as Christian bashing ramps up by the gay community. Eventually we are going to see Pastors go to jail for refusing to conduct gay weddings in their churches. Its coming folks.

Quote: Palinista wrote in post #2

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Freedom of association is a dead concept in today's America.

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[quote=Olivia|p28302]You have to ask yourself it this were a Muslim florist, would the attorney file a lawsuit? No, because it would be against their religious belief.
It's just Christians that are persecuted. [/quote)

You have found the answer, all the shop owner needs to say is, my daughter is married to a Muslim, do you want to speak to him and his ten crazy brothers.

Quote: Cedric wrote in post #6

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Sen. Tim Johnson, D -S.D., said in a statement sent today from his office that his views have "evolved" on the issue.

"After lengthy consideration, my views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation," Johnson, 66, said.

"This position doesn't require any religious denomination to alter any of its tenets...."

April 8, 2013

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Quote: Palinista wrote in post #2

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Freedom of association is a dead concept in today's America.

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Just wait until the gay marriage agenda passes. They'll be suing churches for refusing to conduct weddings.