A Washington state judge has ruled that
a florist violated state law when she refused to supply flowers for
the wedding of a gay customer, the AP
reported.
Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of
Arlene's Flowers & Gifts in Richland, said that providing the
service would be a violation of her faith.
Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex
Ekstrom disagreed, saying in his ruling that the Supreme Court “has
held that laws may prohibit religiously motivated action, as opposed
to belief.”
“In trade and commerce, and more
particularly when seeking to prevent discrimination in public
accommodations, the Courts have confirmed the power of the
Legislative Branch to prohibit conduct it deems discriminatory even
where the motivation for that conduct is grounded in religious
belief,” he added.
In February 2013, Stutzman refused to
serve Robert Ingersoll when he attempted to purchase flowers for his
upcoming marriage to now-husband Curt Freed.
Stutzman is represented by the
Christian conservative Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
ADF lawyer Kristen Waggoner claimed
that “the government will bring about your ruin if you don't help
celebrate same sex marriage.”