People get it done here!
If it pisses you off, I want to hear about it!
Earlier in the week I had written a short piece based upon a photographer who, because of her religious conviction—faith—had exercised her natural rights as a human being by freely deciding not to engage in a "commitment ceremony" or union of a lesbian couple. (Please see Crap v. Crap April 11, 2008.)
According to Mrs. Huguenin's attorney, Mr. Jordon Lorence, "They are simply trying to live their lives according to their Christian beliefs and convictions," Mr. Lorence said. Sounds easy enough to me.
In addition, Mr. Lorence compared the situation to Canada where a number of prominent Catholic and Evangelical clergy have been fined by Canada's human rights tribunals for publicly defending traditional Christian teaching concerning marriage.
The line of defense that Lorence, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), argued that photography was a form of artistic expression, and therefore forcing the couple to photograph the wedding was a form of compelled speech (forcing to talk) prohibited by the First Amendment.
Moreover, the obvious crime here is in the notion that the Huguenin's are protected completely under the First Amendment with regards to their religious beliefs. Therefore, this family's right to free speech and their Constitutional right to freely exercise their religious convictions have been violated. And guess what? They have been ordered to pay the amount of $6,600.00.
This case started in 2006, when Huguenin, the Christian photographer, who owns a tiny two person studio, politely declined to photograph the "commitment ceremony." She had received an email from the lesbian couple and in short order replied to the email with her sentiments and her well--wishes.
The complaint against Elane Photography was filed by Vanessa Willcock, one of the two women in the union.
Elane Photography is small photography studio owned by Jon and Elaine Huguenin, a husband-and-wife team who are devout evangelical Christians and refused to photograph the same-sex ceremony for reasons of religious conscience.
The commission's two-paragraph order stated that "Elane Photography, LLC discriminated against [Miss Willcock] because of sexual orientation."
~Please think about this situation~
Oh yes! Much more to come…
Politics
Religion
Education
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