The Washington State Attorney General supports the decision of the court in finding Richland florist Barronelle Stutzman guilty. This is about her case on declining the request of her longtime customer for floral arrangements for his wedding to another man.
ABC News said that Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a brief composing of 64 pages to support the decision of the Benton Country Superior Court. It was a violation committed by Stutzman against consumer-protection and anti-discrimination laws to reject providing flowers due to sexual orientation.
It happened on March 2013 when the Arlene's Flowers owner rejected providing flowers to her nine-year customer Robert Ingersoll for his wedding to his same-sex lover. Stutzman said she did this because of her relationship with Jesus Christ. She added that granting the wish of Ingersoll will make her feel barred in practicing her Southern Baptist faith.
This, for Ferguson, is considered discrimination based on sexual orientation. The attorney general articulated that free speech and free exercise of rights do not allow states from prohibiting businesses to conduct discriminatory acts.
"As the Superior Court recognized, it is illegal in Washington for a business to offer services to opposite-sex couples yet refuse those same services to same-sex partners," Ferguson said. Advocate further reported that Ferguson is confident that the Supreme Court will agree with him as his office will not stand for discrimination.
It will be remembered that the State took a chance on settling with Stutzman. According to The New Civil Rights Movement, she was offered $20,000; however, she did not accept it. That is when she went to trial together with her activist Alliance Defending Freedom attorney.
Had Stuntzman accepted the offer, she would have gained money instead of paying fines. After a Washington judge decided that she went against the Consumer Protection Act as well as the Washington Law Against Discrimination, she paid $1,000. Moreover, she paid $1 in legal costs plus was charged from more acts of discrimination.
