Washington Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of the florist who was sued by her long-time friend for declining his gay wedding.
Washington State's Supreme Court will hear the case of floral artist who was sued by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Washington State Attorney General for declining to make flower arrangements for a gay wedding.
Barronelle Stutzman, 70, was found guilty by a lower court for discrimination under consumer protection laws, and was asked to pay penalties and attorneys' fees to the plaintiffs.
She is being represented by Alliance Defending Freedom in the court, and the judges will weigh the arguments citing violation of religious freedom as per First Amendment and anti-discrimination laws.
Stutzman was running Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington, for the last 40 years.
In 2013, she was asked by her long-time friend Robert Ingersoll to make floral arrangements for his gay wedding. Stutzman explained her stance and suggested three nearby florists to him.
"I put my hand on his and said, 'I'm sorry, Rob, I can't do your wedding because of my relationship with Jesus Christ,'" Stutzman told The Daily Signal. "We talked a little bit, we talked about his mom [walking him down the aisle] ... we hugged and he left."
The anti-discrimination law states that no business or service can decline customers on the basis of their creed, race, sexual orientation or physical disability.
Bob Ferguson, Washington State Attorney General, filed a lawsuit against Stutzman, while ACLU also sued her on behalf of Ingersoll and his partner Curt Freed. Both the suits were heard in Washington's Benton County Superior Court under the case Arlene's Flowers v. Ferguson, and the ruling went against her.
She challenged the verdict, and said that the government was depriving her of one of her "basic rights, and feels that she is being used as a case example after the state of Washington legalized same-sex marriage in 2012."
"No one should face personal and professional ruin simply for exercising these foundational freedoms," said Jeremy Tedesco, ADF Senior Counsel.
Stutzman's lawyer, Kristen Waggoner, said in a statement: "Barronelle and many others like her around the country have been willing to serve any and all customers, but they are understandably not willing to promote any and all messages. We hope the Washington Supreme Court will affirm the broad protections that both the U.S. Constitution and the Washington Constitution afford to freedom of speech and conscience."
Ingersoll and Freed released a joint statement last year saying that they were "hurt and saddened" by her refusal to make the flower arrangements.
"We respect everyone's beliefs, but businesses that are open to the public have an obligation to serve everyone," they said.
In reply to their comments, Stutzman said, "I did serve Rob. It's the event that I turned down, not the service for Rob or his partner."
