Posted on 03/19/2015 8:15:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A wedding videographer in Ohio could face legal action after she declined to shoot a lesbian couples' wedding ceremony because it would have conflicted with her biblical understanding that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.
When Jenn Moffitt and her partner Jerra Kincely were searching in February for a videographer to film their wedding, they sent an email inquiry to a local video production company called Next Door Stories in Bexley, Ohio, a town in the Columbus suburbs.
CNN reports that the couple got an email back from the company's owner, Courtney Schmackers, on Feb. 4 politely informing them that she doesn't offer her services for same-sex weddings.
"Hello, Thank you for reaching out about wedding videography. How did you hear about Next Door Stories?" Schmackers' email asked. "Unfortunately at this time I do not offer services for same-sex weddings, but thank you for your inquiry!"
In an interview with CNN that was published Monday, Moffitt said that she was stunned by Schmackers' response to her request.
"I couldn't believe it," Moffitt explained. "It is a small business, and I thought this was a tight-knit community. We wanted to support local commerce and to get that kind of response was astounding."
Moffitt and Kincely have filed a complaint against Next Door Stories with the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce. The couple has also taken to Facebook to explain the conflict, which has stirred outrage among gay rights advocates, which has shined a negative light on Schmackers' business.
Although Schmackers' refused to provide a comment to CNN on why she refused to provide her services to the lesbian couple, The Daily Mail reports that Schmackers took to Facebook to explain her decision.
"I made a business decision based on my spiritual beliefs and the biblical definition of marriage because I thought that I had a right to that," Schmackers wrote. "Unfortunately, I gave the wrong answer to the wrong person, who decided to make a private issue into a public platform and now I am fully experiencing the consequences. I am sorry you had to be exposed to it, and I'm open to any and all conversation regarding it."
Although the couple filed the complaint, Ohio is one of 13 states that does not allow same-sex marriages, and Bexley is also a municipality that does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Additionally, the Bexley Chamber of Commerce does not prohibit its members from discriminating based on sexual orientation.
The Bexley Chamber of Commerce issued a statement through Facebook on Monday condemning Schmackers' refusal of service. The post continued by stating that board members have decided that the chamber's policy must be changed so that this type of "discrimination" does not happen again.
"At our Feb. 11 board meeting, we discussed in detail how the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce could ensure this does not happen again. The Chamber Board believes that discrimination in any form is wrong and should not be tolerated. At this meeting, the board agreed that our membership policy must be revised to reflect this. We began the process of re-writing [sic] our policies and guidelines."
Bakers and photographers, look out!
I thought “involuntary servitude” was banished under the 13th amendment.
Always been my suspicion that frivolous suits were not grass root. No joe shmoe in the street can go to a lawyer and file suits like these.
Laws? Liberals don't need laws. Hurt feelings is all you need.
Small Christian businesses need to be more intelligent so as not to fall into these traps. First of all, drop all Christian symbols from your advertising both online and yellow pages. Secondly, if you are still propositioned for your business, you cite any other excuse for not accepting the bid other than the truth. You're "fully booked" or you have other engagements.
There's a verse about being "wise as serpents". Don't volunteer yourself as a target during these intolerant times.
RE: Bakers and photographers, look out!
Add private Christian wedding venue operators to the list.
SEE HERE:
Is there anything left of Consciousness objection? Are we enlisted to the gay army we must obey those orders?
This is a blatant attack on free speech and making money.
If there is anything more bigoted than racists and genuine homophobes, it is those doing a witch hunt in order to impose racial modesty, heterosexual modesty and speech/business choice modesty.
But we all know how useful that is for communist powers that be.
Does this apply to a:
Satanist Wedding?
Animal/human wedding?
nudist wedding?
sex fetish wedding? (of any kind)
polygamy wedding?
You know, if a business backs out at the last minute leaving a gay couple scrambling, that is one thing. But when it was just an initial inquiry and they don’t like the response, too bad. That is a sign they are dealing with a truly conscientious business person and frankly, should be applauded.
We’ve come a long way from “stay out of our bedrooms” to “you must film our wedding”.
Why not just say OK, and then call in sick that day?
These idiots can’t find gay florists, gay bakers, gay photographers, gay wedding planners - what occupations do they have?
“”Don’t volunteer yourself as a target during these intolerant times.””
I’ve often wondered myself after seeing stories like this one why the establishments just don’t plead no time, other commitments, illness etc.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Moffitt explained. “It is a small business, and I thought this was a tight-knit community. We wanted to support local commerce and to get that kind of response was astounding.”
That’s a bunch of horse puckey!!!! They deliberately choose the establishments who they know will say NO....
What legal trouble? All I see is a bunch of slander from two agenda driven lesbos and a gutless or amoral chamber of commerce.
Had this been a Christian couple want a gay videographer to do their wedding and the Gay person declined; well then that’s okay because, well you know. . . ?
Hobby Lobby is at this time the law, so the small business owner has her 1st Amendment protected rights intact. Also. since it involves labor, the 13th can apply.
Is there any legal precedent that says you can’t sue for non-accommodation if there are other accommodations available?
That’s my belief.
The homos are the left’s weapon in their war on Christianity.
It’s not “people of faith” that are targeted, it’s specifically Christians.
Probably all.
This isn't about sodomite ceremonies.
This is about destroying Judeo-Christian western culture. It is about forcing you (yes YOU, personally) to bow down before the leftists, who are determined to control your life in its every phase and aspect. It's straight up totalitarianism.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.