Free Republic

It’s a floor wax AND a dessert topping!* The Supreme Court left its most anticipated decisions for another day in a brief session today, but the real action came with the orders from the court. After overturning a Colorado action against a Christian baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop, the court declined an opportunity to address the same issue directly with Arlene’s Flowers — but they did overturn the extant ruling against Barronelle Stutzman. The order sends the case back to court, with direction to consider Masterpiece Cakeshop in a new trial: The U.S. Supreme Court Monday granted the appeal of...

(EXCERPT) A florist in eastern Washington state fined $1,000 for refusing to sell a same-sex couple wedding flowers and also facing a consumer-protection lawsuit has netted more than $87,000 in a crowdfunding campaign. The Seattle Times reports that nearly half of the money on the gofundme.com page set up in February for 70-year-old Barronelle Stutzman came in the last several days. Supporters compare Stutzman's benefit page to an Indiana pizza shop that raised more than $800,000 after closing when the owner said the shop wouldn't cater a gay wedding. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3026692/85K-raised-Washington-florist-refused-gay-couple.html#ixzz3WUHTYV6r

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has offered florist Barronelle Stutzman a deal: She can cater to same-sex weddings or she can stop doing weddings altogether. Of course, there’s always a third option: She can go out of business. Ms. Stutzman, the 70-year-old owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, is opting for none of the above. “Your offer reveals that you don’t really understand me or what this conflict is all about,” Ms. Stutzman said in a letter to Mr. Ferguson. “It’s about freedom, not money. I certainly don’t relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything...

Richland — A Richland florist countersued the Washington attorney general (WAG), Thursday after he WAG filed a lawsuit against her for refusing to provide flower arrangements for a same-sex (male on male) marriage. Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal ministry that advocates for religious rights, filed the suit in Benton County Superior Court on behalf of Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers. ''Barronelle believes, as the Bible teaches, that marriage is defined by God as a union of man and woman,” The lawsuit argues (State Attorney General Bob Ferguson).. lawsuit filed (without any citizen complaint), on behalf of the state...