Read Arlene’s Flowers Response to Attorney General Settlement Offer

Late last week, Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers of Richland, turned down a settlement offer from Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. After Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom ruled Stutzman violated the Consumer Protection Act by refusing to provide floral services for a same-sex wedding,  Ferguson offered a $2,001 dollar arrangement.  The $1 was for court costs.

However, Stutzman and her attorney chose to appeal. She made headlines with one of the passages in her letter which read:

  "Your offer shows you don't really understand me or or what this conflict is about. It's about freedom, not money."

Courtesy of the Family Policy Institute of Washington state, a pro-faith and family activist group, here is Stutzman's entire letter that was sent to Ferguson in response to his settlement:

Thank you for reaching out and making an offer to settle your case against me.

As you may imagine, it has been mentally and emotionally exhausting to be at the center of this controversy for nearly two years.  I never imagined that using my God-given talents and abilities, and doing what I love to do for over three decades, would become illegal. Our state would be a better place if we respected each other's differences, and our leaders protected the freedom to have those differences. Since 2012, same-sex couples all over the state have been free to act on their beliefs about marriage, but because I follow the Bible's teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, I am no longer free to act on my beliefs.

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. You are asking me to walk in the way of a well-known betrayer, one who sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver.  That is something I will not do.

I pray that you reconsider your position. I kindly served Rob for nearly a decade and would gladly continue to do so. I truly want the best for my friend. I've also employed and served many members of the LGBT community, and I will continue to do so regardless of what happens with this case. You chose to attack my faith and pursue this not simply as a matter of law, but to threaten my very means of working, eating, and having a home. If you are serious about clarifying the law, then I urge you to drop your claims against my home, business, and other assets and pursue the legal claims through the appeal process. Thanks again for writing and I hope you will consider my offer.