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Friday, June 26, 2015

Farm Owners Who Were Fined for Refusing to Host a Gay Wedding Fight Back Against Gov’t Ultimatum: ‘Give Up Your Faith or Give Up Your Livelihood’

A husband and wife who own a farm in central New York are continuing to appeal a punishment enacted by the New York State Division of Human Rights after they were found guilty of “sexual orientation discrimination” and fined $13,000 for refusing to host a same-sex wedding ceremony on their property.

Attorneys for Cynthia and Robert Gifford, owners of Liberty Ridge Farm, a farm and special events venue in Schaghticoke, New York, filed an opening brief in the Gifford v. Erwin case on Thursday in an effort to defend the embattled business owners. The Giffords maintain that the monetary fine as well as a requirement that they send staff to what lawyers called “re-education training classes” violate their rights.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative legal firm that represents the Gifford family, claims that the government failed to take the couple’s Christian faith into account when implementing the punishment.

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2 comments:

Concerned Retiree said...

The USSC just ruled and stated they did not mean to infringe on the 1st amendment of freedom of Religion and the Peoples beliefs. So we will find out if they pursue this. We will see if the SC will stick by their decision or violate this part of their decision.

Steve said...

The Giffords have every right to practice their religion, and anyone who is offended by that will just have to remain offended. There is no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Case closed; everyone move along...