Christian Photographers, Lawyers to Appeal Decision Forcing Gay Marriage Services

Christian Photographers, Lawyers to Appeal Decision Forcing Gay Marriage Services A New Mexico court has upheld a ruling that it is illegal for Christian photographers to refuse their services to same-sex couples because of their faith, arguing that it would be discriminating against a person's sexual orientation. Lorence of the ADF then appealed the verdict to the New Mexico Court of Appeals, and on May 31 the appeals court upheld the original decision of the commission. Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions between couples of the same sex are legal in New Mexico. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council also weighed in on the court's decision, writing in a recent newsletter that he sees this case involving a same-sex couple as part of a bigger trend against Christians. The couple was ordered to pay $6,637 to Willock's attorney for services. "Americans in the marketplace should not be subjected to legal attacks for simply abiding by their beliefs," said Attorney and ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence in a June 4 press release. "Unfortunately, this is just a snapshot of what's happening around the country in business, sports, Hollywood, and schools," he writes. In 2008, the commission found the Huguenins guilty of sexual discrimination as found in the state's Human Rights Act, which states places of public accommodation may not partake in discrimination based on sexual orientation. "Should the government force a videographer who is an animal rights activist to produce a video promoting hunting and taxidermy? Of course not, and neither should the government force this photographer to promote a message that violates her conscience. According to court documents, Elaine Huguenin said she and her husband refused to photograph the ceremony because their beliefs were in conflict with the purpose of the ceremony. The ADF, a Christian legal alliance group, believes the court's verdict in this case sends a clear message that: "you will be punished if you do not fully endorse or promote the homosexual agenda, whether you agree with it or not. "The message a same-sex commitment ceremony communicates isn't one I believe," Hugeunin has said. The Willock v. Willock ultimately chose a different photographer for her ceremony, but filed a discrimination complaint against the company with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission. " . Christian Photographers, Lawyers to Appeal Decision Forcing Gay Marriage Services Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 09/06/2012