February 23, 2015

Source: Shutterstock

THE ROSA PARKS OF HETEROSEXUAL FLORISTS?
Barronelle Stutzman“€”we don”€™t name them, we just report the names”€”is a 70-year-old woman in Washington State who risks losing her floral business because, citing her Christian beliefs, she refused to provide flowers for a gay wedding.

In 2013, a gay man who”€™d apparently frequented her shop for nine years and whom she considered a “€œfriend”€ asked her to supply the flowers for his gay wedding. That’s where she drew the line, claiming that her “€œrelationship with Jesus”€ would prevent her from knowingly endorsing such a sodomitical festivity.

Despite apparently being her “€œfriends,”€ both gay men sued Stutzman for discrimination and won. A Washington judge recently offered Stutzman a relatively easy way out: She could fork over $2,001 to the court. Two thousand dollars is the standard fine for such a violation; the judge added the dollar to cover “€œfees.”€ She would also be required to never again decline to provide flowers for a gay wedding.

Stutzman refused. Her response to the state Attorney General included this passage:

Your offer reveals that you don”€™t really understand me or what this conflict is all about. It’s about freedom, not money. I certainly don”€™t relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my freedom to honor God in doing what I do best is more important….Washington’s constitution guarantees us “€˜freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment.”€™ I cannot sell that precious freedom.

No matter what the principle, it’s good to see someone acting on principle these days. And it’s not as if the world suffers a shortage of gay florists who”€™d be as thrilled as pink squirrels to provide any gay wedding with lavish bouquets that are fierce and absolutely to die for.

Columnists

Sign Up to Receive Our Latest Updates!