The owners of Liberty Ridge Farm in
New York State, Cynthia and Robert Gifford, used to rent out their farm so
couples could get married on their grounds. They will no longer offer such services because
the state ruled they had to violate their Christian beliefs and allow same-sex
weddings on their property.
The state had fined the Giffords
$13,000 when they refused to allow a lesbian couple, Jennifer McCarthy and
Melisa Erwin, to be married on their farm in 2012. The Giffords were against a wedding ceremony
for the lesbian couple, but said a wedding reception would be permissible. Wedding receptions have always been opened to
any couple regardless of sexual orientation.
The lesbians filed a lawsuit,
telling New York’s Division of Human Rights they had been discriminated
against. Judge Migdalia Pares ruled the
farm was a public accommodation … because it rents the space to customers and
regularly collects public fees from the public. Judge Pares said that just because the
Giffords live on the farm did not make their business private, thus fining them
$10,000 and ordering them to pay each woman of the couple $1,500.
The Giffords said they will “no
longer host any wedding ceremonies on their property.” Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) allied
attorney James Trainor told TheBlaze,
“Going forward, [Cynthia and Robert Gifford] have decided to no longer host any
wedding ceremonies on their property (other than the ones already under
contract). Since the order essentially
compelled them to do all ceremonies or none at all, they have chosen the latter
in order to stay true to their religious convictions, even though it will
likely hurt their business in the short run.”
The ADF stated that not only were
the Giffords fined, but the court forced them to “teach classes to their
employees that impose the state’s view of marriage.”
Should the government force anyone
to participate in or celebrate an event that violates their faith and beliefs? Apparently, New York State thinks so … for
that’s exactly what they have done to the Giffords.
The Giffords have not yet stated
whether they will appeal the court’s decision.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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