Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland, is not sitting down following a Benton County Judge's ruling she broke the state's Consumer Protection Act by refusing to provide flowers and floral services for a same-sex wedding.

Monday, Stutzman's lead attorney filed a motion to have her conviction overturned by the Washington State Supreme Court.  The court can choose to hear the case, or refer it to a lower court of appeals.

In a briefing released by Attorney Kristen Waggoner, she said the following:

“The message that the attorney general and the ACLU have sent to the people of Washington in these two lawsuits is quite clear: surrender your religious liberty and freedom of speech, or face personal and professional ruin..."

She added:

“The trial court’s ruling affects all Americans who wish to remain free to live and work according to their faith without fear of punishment by the government..."

Stutzman was the subject of a trial in a case filed by the Washington State Attorney General in 2013. She had declined to provide floral services for a same-sex wedding; one of the partners was a long-time customer of hers.  The ACLU has attorneys that have been representing the couple.

Stutzman, who is a Baptist, declined to provide the services because she felt it was condoning same-sex marriage, against her religious beliefs and faith.

According to news sources, there was no immediate comment from Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Since gender and sexual preference were added to the state's Consumer Protection Act more than 8 years ago, this was the first such case ever tried by the state. No other such cases have been even reported to the Washington State Human Rights Commission.

 

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