Tag Archives: public accommodations

“Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day. But that doesn’t mean that marriage and family are flourishing. A mistaken understanding of romantic love — the Hallmark and Hollywood version — has, unfortunately, undermined key aspects of committed marital love, and the consequences have been dire. Gays and lesbians, obviously, are not to blame for this. Heterosexuals are. Heterosexuals who …

Yesterday afternoon the West Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a bill that would legalize discrimination against LGBT citizens on the basis of “sincerely held religious beliefs.” The bill now goes to the West Virginia Senate, where the GOP holds a slim two-seat majority. Today the Huntington Herald-Dispatch wants to know what you think. You know what to do.

After hours of testimony from local and national hate groups as well as sobbing out-of-state martyred anti-LGBT business owners, the Indiana Senate Rules and Legislative Procedures committee tonight advanced a heavily-amended “LGBT rights” bill that actually worsens the already poor civil rights status of LGBT Hoosiers. Activist groups below are calling for “all hands on deck” to stop the bill. Freedom …

The Florida Senate Judiciary Committee is just beginning its hearing on a comprehensive LGBT anti-discrimination bill. The chamber appears to be packed with supporters and our enemies. Watch at this link. Equality Florida has the details: The committee will hear The Florida Competitive Workforce Act (SB 120) which would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing and public accommodations. …

“Deep in the Islamic tradition is jizya, a tax which forces non-Muslims to pay an exorbitant fee for living within a Muslim state. Now, from farmers in New York to those offering wedding cakes, photography and other services, all have been fined thousands, and sometimes more than a hundred thousand dollars for having and acting on a religious belief that …

It’s Jeb’s turn to pander to the evangelicals in a new campaign ad. And with an editorial in the wingnut press. From the National Review: People of faith are being asked to compromise their beliefs on the issue of marriage. While people of good will have different opinions on same-sex marriage, in a nation as large and diverse as ours, …

Via press release from the ACLU: The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court today affirmed that it is illegal for businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation. The New York Civil Liberties Union victory came in the case of Melisa and Jennifer McCarthy, who were turned away by the Albany wedding venue they chose after the venue owners …

JMG reader Robert points us to this new video from anti-gay bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein, who snicker at the mean tweets sent by horrible homosexuals for whom they totally feel sorry. They’re praying for you meanies! Watch below. Yesterday the Kleins finally paid their $135K doxxing fine – leaving them only $365K (at least) richer for their awful, awful …

Via press release: Attorney General Bob Ferguson late last night filed a brief with the Washington State Supreme Court urging the justices to uphold a Benton County Superior Court decision ordering a Richland florist to stop discriminating against gay and lesbian customers seeking flowers for their weddings. In a February 18, 2015 ruling, the Superior Court found that Arlene’s Flowers, …

Despite raising over $500K via Christian crowdfunding campaigns, Oregon’s anti-gay bakery refused to pay its fine. Until today: The co-owner of a Gresham bakery that refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple delivered a $136,927 check that covers the couple’s damages following the January 2013 incident. Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, …

In Missouri, as in many other states, it’s already completely legal to refuse to serve LGBT citizens as no such protections exist in state law. But that’s not good enough for GOP state attorney general candidate Josh Hawley. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports: Hawley wrote to legislative leaders urging them to pass exemptions for ministers, churches and businesses that do …

“Like a growing number of Christians in the wedding business, the Giffords knew it was only a matter of time before the debate over religious liberty came to their doorstep. And two years ago, it did. When a same-sex couple approached the Farm about hosting their wedding, the Giffords said they’d be happy to open up the barn to a …

The owners of an upstate New York wedding venue yesterday appeared in court to appeal the $13,000 fine imposed last year after they turned away a lesbian couple. The Associated Press reports: The Giffords’ lawyer, James Trainor, said at the time of the initial ruling that he was surprised the judge did not incorporate the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Hobby …

As an anti-gay continent led by the Indiana Pastors Alliance held a prayer vigil against LGBT rights at the Indiana Statehouse, state Senate Republicans today introduced an alleged LGBT rights bill that has LGBT groups alarmed. First the report from the Indianapolis Star: Indiana Senate Republicans introduced legislation Tuesday that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to state civil …

Via the Denver Post: The Lakewood baker who, citing his religious beliefs, refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, is asking the Colorado Supreme Court to hear his case. On Aug. 13, the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld two previous rulings and found that Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips cannot cite his religious beliefs or free-speech rights …

Florida state GOP Rep. Julio Gonzales has introduced a broad “religious freedom” bill that would allow adoption agencies, hospitals, and small businesses to turn away LGBT people because Jesus. Florida Politics reports: Rep. Julio Gonzalez filed his first bill of the 2016 legislative year on Wednesday, and it was a doozy: a proposal to give immunity to certain businesses that …

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has reportedly had meetings about a proposed LGBT rights bill similar to the so-called “Utah compromise” – in other words, there would be protections in housing and employment but none in public accommodations. Via the Indianapolis ABC affiliate: “I think whatever issues come up in the next General Assembly, they’ll be considered on their merits,” Pence …

In a cutesy clip posted today by the Heritage Foundation, anti-gay Washington state florist Barronelle Stutzman flatly declares that she did not break the law when she refused to serve a gay couple. State courts, of course, have disagreed and earlier this year Stutzman was fined a paltry $1000. Stutzman has received at least $174,000 in crowd-funding. (Tipped by JMG …

Even though they’ve raised over half a million dollars with several Christian crowd-funding campaigns, anti-gay Oregon bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein are defying the court and have not paid their fine for violating Oregon’s public accommodation law. Williamette Weekly has the report: It looks like Aaron and Melissa Klein, the former proprietors of Gresham bakery Sweetcakes by Melissa, are following …

“Proud to stand w/ Barronelle Stutzman, the heroic WA florist who faces financial ruin due to homo’l lawsuits: #VVS15”