Photographers guilty of ‘discrimination’ for refusing to shoot same-sex ‘wedding’: New Mexico court

Life Site News ^ | June 7, 2012 | MATTHEW CULLINAN HOFFMAN

[NYer]

June 7, 2012 (LifeSitenews.com) - A New Mexico appeals court has upheld a lower court verdict that a photography studio that refused to shoot a same-sex “wedding” on religious grounds is guilty of “sexual orientation discrimination” under state law.

According to the court’s verdict, the trouble began for Elane Photography when the company was contacted by lesbian Vanessa Willock asking if they could photograph a “commitment ceremony” for a Willock and her “partner.” The company, owned by Christian couple Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin, responded stating that they only shoot traditional weddings, and do not do “same-sex weddings,” but thanked Willock for her interest.

The following day, Willock’s anonymous “partner” sent an email to Elane Photography stating that she was going to “marry,” without stating that the “marriage” would be between herself and a woman.  She asked if the company could travel to the location of the event, and was told that it could. 

The two emails would be used as proof that the Huguenins were discriminating against Willock in her suit against the company, and resulted in a judgment of $6,637.94 against the defendant.

Although the government of New Mexico does not recognize same-sex “marriage,” civil unions, or domestic partnerships for homosexuals, the court ruled that Elane Photography had engaged in illegal discrimination based on sexual preference under the New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMHRA).

The court brushed aside the claim that photography is a form of “speech” protected under state and federal law, ruling, “The NMHRA does not force Elane Photography to endorse any message or modify its own speech in any way. Rather, the NMHRA requires Elane Photography merely to offer its photography services without discrimination against any member of a protected class.”

Click “like” if you want to defend true marriage.

It also dismissed the argument that compelling the owners of the company to photograph such weddings would constitute a violation of freedom of religion, stating, “the burden on freedom of religion experienced by Elane Photography is unclear.”

The Alliance Defense Fund, which was representing the couple, has decided to appeal the case to a higher court.

“Americans in the marketplace should not be subjected to legal attacks for simply abiding by their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence. “Should the government force a videographer who is an animal rights activist to create 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. Because the U.S. Constitution prohibits the state from forcing unwilling artists to promote a message they disagree with, we will certainly appeal this decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court.”

Law professor and legal commentator Eugene Volokh denounced the decision as an attack on freedom of speech protections.

“It seems to me that the right to be free from compelled speech includes the right not to create First-Amendment-protected expression — photographs, paintings, songs, press releases, or what have you — that you disagree with, even if no-one would perceive you as endorsing that expression,” he wrote in his blog, the Volokh Conspiracy.

Volokh cites the U.S. Supreme Court case of Wooley v. Maynard (1978), in which a state license plate containing a motto that drivers disagreed with was seen as violating the first amendment, even though no reasonable person would be believe that the bearers of the plate were in agreement with the motto.

“It follows even more strongly, I think, that people should have a First Amendment right not to create expression that they don’t wish to create, regardless of whether outsiders would perceive such creation as an endorsement of the message,” said Volokh.

[NYer]

Although the government of New Mexico does not recognize same-sex “marriage,” civil unions, or domestic partnerships for homosexuals, the court ruled that Elane Photography had engaged in illegal discrimination based on sexual preference under the New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMHRA).

Most disconcerting!

[a fool in paradise]

Down is up. Wrong is right.

The bakery didn’t have to make a cake with the name Adolph Hitler on it and in fact reported the parents who named their child this to the authorities.

Either you can choose what artistic endeavor you want to participate in or you can’t.

[Adder]

The court brushed aside the claim that photography is a form of “speech” protected under state and federal law, ruling, “The NMHRA does not force Elane Photography to endorse any message or modify its own speech in any way. Rather, the NMHRA requires Elane Photography merely to offer its photography services without discrimination against any member of a protected class.”

Horsesh1t.

If that is their reasoning its past time to change the way we do things. SCREW protected classes..that is not equality before the law.

The correct response if “Eff yourself”.

[a fool in paradise]

Right, the state does not recognize such pairings, some judicial activism is going on to extend the protection to a class that does not exist.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Western civilization will go down in flames.

[EGPWS]

Now not believing in pagan ways is considered discrimination?

Then everything is discrimination!

Personal freedom in this country is long gone.

[Darteaus94025]

Am I guilty of discrimination if I don’t kiss the bride?

[Joe Bfstplk]

The photographers could have had ‘equipment failure’ and left the scene.

[ReformationFan]

This is a good article:

http://hancockbaptist.org/05ArticlesText.php?t=JesusWouldDiscriminate.txt

[max americana]

What happened to those signs “we have the right to refuse service to anyone”? Besides, the “partner” was DISHONEST enough not to even mention it was a fag he was going to marry in the e-mail.

Lesson to photogs in the future: find out by subtle questioning what the name of the bride is...

[FlyVet]

MSM is just as guilty. They like to inform us that various Gay Pride Parades happen.....but you notice, they never show what happens within that parade. Because, they know the general public would be disgusted by what they'd see.

[NJRighty]

"the NMHRA requires Elane Photography merely to offer its photography services without discrimination against any member of a protected class."

If a gay photographer refused to photograph a heterosexual wedding because he only wants to do "gay weddings", would they consider that to be discrimination? I'll bet not, because straight people are not likely a protected class. If that is the case, then the anti-discrimination law itself is discriminatory.

[Molon Labbie]

“What happened to those signs “we have the right to refuse service to anyone”?

Dang, beat me to it. ;)

More government overreach. It is not the government’s job to tell us who we can and cannot like or service or sell our wares to.

The business owner takes the business loss/risk when they turn away customers but its THEIR business decision.

[Argus]

If this isn’t just plain tyranny I don’t know what is.

Doesn’t the Constitution forbid involuntary servitude?

[Army Air Corps]

“Damn, the battery pack died and we don’t have a spare.”

[dfwgator]

“Sorry, we’re all booked up.”

How many times do businesses get in trouble because they forget to say those few words?

[NoRedTape]

I think think this could be the tip of the iceberg. Let’s hope all Christian Churches can properly defend themselves when they refuse to perform a gay marriage. What a LOAD of SH*T. There is no such thing as “gay marriage”, but the gays are too lazy to come-up with their own name for their union.

[Sister_T]

Or they could go ahead and take the best photos for these bullies then take the payment received and donate it to Exodus International, P-FOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays) or some other group that helps homosexuals out of this perversion and let the bullies know that is exactly where their payment for services rendered is going.

They can’t do a darn thing about it and it allows the photographer to remain honest.

[Sister_T]

Or they could go ahead and take the best photos for these bullies then take the payment received and donate it to Exodus International, P-FOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays) or some other group that helps homosexuals out of this perversion and let the bullies know that is exactly where their payment for services rendered is going.

They (the bullies) can’t do a darn thing about it and it allows the photographer to remain honest.

[JudyinCanada]

When I see pics on tv of two men or two women being “married” it makes me a little sick.

There is no way I could have taken pictures either.

[Army Air Corps]

That is even better.

[Anima Mundi]

This is where a lot of the money and productivity of this country is going now...into all of these law suits and appeals and bickering for people who want to have their own way. It is not as if they can’t get some other photographer, nor is it a real problem. It is simply a big waste of time and money when you think about it. Why do they choose to spend the limited days of their lives in this way? Their issue is not getting a photographer, but forcing a particular photoghrapher to do something uncomfortable for them. Typical leftys. My Lefty sister intentionally serves up particular foods she knows people don’t like and then acts “hurt” when the person does not eat the thing she knows they have ALWAYS not eaten. There is some perverse joy they get in making others squirm. Rude, crude.

[1010RD]

Great case to reestablish the Freedom of Association for private businesses.

[pointsal]

Now that is a good link.....thanks for the post...

http://hancockbaptist.org/05ArticlesText.php?t=JesusWouldDiscriminate.txt

Discrimination is the right response....

[Chode]

shoot the job making sure you won't get sued but shoot it so they are not happy with it...

or tell them up front you don't feel comfortable shooting it and if they want to take their chances that it will not be "Perfect" because of it you'll do it after they sign a waver stating such.

[The Antiyuppie]

What I don’t understand is, why would you want to hire a photographer who doesn’t have their heart in the work? Obviously, to provoke something and get a nest egg to start with...

[Monorprise]

In the eyes of leftist some people are “more equal” than others.

You wont find a greater resist than a leftist politician and/or judge.

[Monorprise]

No, I would not want to see such a disgusting display of sodomy. I would not go, and thus I could not shoot it.

I will not participate in sodomy.

[Chode]

i admire your principals, but... giving them all your money in a lawsuit simply makes them richer and you poorer.

i'd rather go and make them all uncomfortable by laughing at them out loud while shooting and give them an inferior product than my house and money by way of some scumbag in a black robe...

[LukeSW]

I do a little wedding photography. When people call and their first question is "what is the price" I am tempted to respond, "how attractive is the bride?" But then, I never, ever give a price over the phone and insist on meeting the bride and her mother first.

If a gay couple came in, I would probably state a charge something on the order of $100K to cover the service and $200K for the images. But I would never, ever enter into any contract to provide wedding photography services without meeting the couple first. If I can't feel good about the couple, no deal or an outrageous price.

[haole]

5 Conclusion The notion of responding to a responsibility confronts us with a paradox. It clearly involves an element of choice and a complete absence of choice. 68Southern Burlington County, NMCP v Township of Mount Laure/336 A 2d 713 (NJ 1975) (Mount Laurel I). 69Southern Burlington County NMCP v Township of Mount Laure/456 A 2d 390 (NJ 1983) (Mount Laurel m. 70Hil/s Development Co v Bernards Township 510 A 2d 621 (NJ 1986). 71See table of non-derogable rights ins 35 on states of emergency. l'mperty and equality: public accommodations and the constitution 85 Responding to a responsibility to which one is called upon to respond is not the act of a subject. But neither is it simply a matter of being 'subject to' a responsibility. To be responsible is a mode of existence that cannot be reduced to either the passive or the active voice.72 Judges have a difficult job. They must do justice to both parties before them. When each side claims legitimate interests and plausible arguments for legal , ......... ..,·v .. ,judges face a painful and sometimes unbearable situation. The easy to deal with dilemmas such as this is to ·convince oneself that some other vorncll.illlg body should deal with the problem. But this conclusion is always a I do not mean that the court should always take the opportunity to the law; I do mean that the court cannot refuse to become involved. When is excluded from a restaurant on the ground of race, the precedents may establish a right to exclude or a right of access, or they may be silent on the If they establish a right to exclude, the judge's refusal to change the law l"."'""'" a ruling of law as much as a choice to change the rule. If the law is the judge's refusal to create a right of access cannot be characterized as a to make law; rather, the judge has ruled that property owners have the to exclude on the basis of race in public accommodations, and has done so, '"r,..,,..,,,r, in the face of a constitutional right to be free from discrimination by persons. Either way the judge goes, she will be making law, determining meaning of property in the new post-apartheid South Africa is not all the same. A private home is not the same as a retail store. interests exist in the context of the home that do not exist in the context e store. Stores implicate interests in equal access to the public world of the - a world that is public, notbecause it is publicly owned, but because it '~~'"""'"nt" a sphere of life to which all have access without regard to race. It is strict application of property law (the right to exclude) could have the of re-inscribing apartheid in a country that just got rid of it that requires a teei)tucll.izA:tt"ionofthe meaning of property. It is not possible to merely extend granted to white people to black and colored persons. The rights previously by white owners must sometimes be changed to achieve equality. Thus, may not have been a public accommodations notion in the apartheid era white people were, in fact, admitted to public accommocl~tions even if had a right to exclude them. If some prejudice remains, and a residual to keep certain groups out of certain neighborhoods, the right to exclude be limited in the context of the type of property to which norms of access prevail over norms of exclusiveness. useful to distinguish among types of social settings new article: Just Shoot Me: Public Accommodation Anti-Discrimination Laws Take Aim at First Amendment Freedom of Speech VANDERBILT LAW REVIEW [Vol. 64:3:961 2011] JUST SHOOT ME 1001 3. Political Speech: It‘s Not Just for Politicians Third, courts must be careful to protect political speech from far-reaching public accommodation laws. Occasionally, the message that an entity refuses to endorse may be a political one, which strengthens its First Amendment claim. In Citizens United, the Court held that ―political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it, whether by design or inadvertence.‖261 In Landmark Communications, Inc. v. Virginia, the Court stated that ―there is practically universal agreement that a major purpose of that Amendment was to protect the free discussion of governmental affairs.‖262 Considering the continuing controversy surrounding the federal Defense of Marriage Act (―DOMA‖) passed in 1996,263 in addition to the often contentious battles surrounding the marriage amendments adopted by thirty states,264 it is a plausible argument that expression on such topics should be deemed political. Additionally, at least one influential scholar advocates a broad interpretation of political speech which would almost certainly encompass the expression in both Elane Photography and Ocean Grove.265 Cass Sunstein suggests that political speech should include all speech which ―is both intended and received as a contribution to public deliberation about some issue

[Monorprise]

Sorry, I just don’t have the stomach for baring witness to an enforcement of Sodomy. Perhaps I’m fortunate that I am not a photographer by trade, and that I no longer live in the State of New Mexico.

A state under theses lawless judges freedom has very little if any value.

Theses ladys are criminals who intentionally lied to this company in order to acquire services that the company does not offer. They should be held accountable for that. But somehow I doubt actual justice will be done in a State that allows such lawless judges.

[Chode]

i heard that... ya gotta cover yer backside somehow

[Chode]

ain't that the truth...

[narses]

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[kearnyirish2]

“Western civilization will go down in flames.”

That is their goal, but they’re not going to like the Islam and such that are replacing it. I have more in common with a Muslim than I do with an American liberal.

[massmike]

Lesbian TX Judge Refuses To Marry Straight Couples

http://newsone.com/1895925/equality-lesbian-texas-judge-refuses-to-marry-straight-couples/

[subterfuge]

I would bet the photog shop was targeted by the homo-fags. Where is the homo’s tolerance of the beliefs of others?

I always thought “discrimination” was legal. I know I practice discrimination. I discriminate against rapists, cannibals, fascists...

[CedarDave]

Not over yet, more to come:

The Alliance Defense Fund, which was representing the couple, has decided to appeal the case to a higher court. ... Because the U.S. Constitution prohibits the state from forcing unwilling artists to promote a message they disagree with, we will certainly appeal this decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court.”

[CedarDave]

NM list PING!

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(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for anyone to use. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)

[LegendHasIt]

May I suggest to the business owner that he seriously consider ‘going Galt’?

At ‘the Gulch’ we believe in freedom of association... Or the freedom to NOT associate.

[OldEarlGray]

But, but, the Rainbow RINO Fithcal Conthervatives are in favor of competition and free Enterprise.

ESAD - if you do, you will.

[OldEarlGray]

Then they would’ve just been sued for breach of contract?

There’s no satisfying the Uber-postgenderist abominators of nature, and it’s clear they won’t stop until everybody else worships their sociopathological ERRORs.

[OldEarlGray]

 

"I KNOW BUT ONE CODE OF MORALITY FOR MEN WHETHER ACTING SINGLY OR COLLECTIVELY"
--Thomas Jefferson

 

Got Natural Law?

 

 

Sex, Evolution and Behavior

By Martin Daly and Margo Wilson

 

 

Got Socio-Biological Fitness?

 

 "Gay" penguins don't - not even in the San Francisco zoo

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=San+Francisco+gay+penguins

 

FAIL.