Barronelle Stutzman, surrounded by supporters, speaks with the media after appearing for the Washington Supreme Court at Bellevue College on Nov. 15, 2016. | Screenshot: Facebook/Alliance Defending Freedom
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Christian florist from Washington state fined refusing to make a floral arrangement for a same-sex wedding because she felt it went against her religious beliefs about marriage.Â
In doing so, the Washington Supreme Court ruling against the Christian florist remains intact. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch each said the court should have taken the case.
Though the case dates back to 2013, religious liberty legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom said the fight to defend Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arleneâs Flowers and Gifts in Richland, Washington, for standing for her beliefs is not over.Â
SCOTUS declines case of florist who refused same-sex wedding job
By AP Staff
Nine justices make up the Supreme Court, with one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday declined to take up the case of a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding, leaving in place a decision that she broke state anti-discrimination laws.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would have agreed to hear the case and review the decision.
In 2018 the high court ordered Washington state courts to take a new look at the case involving florist Barronelle Stutzman and her Arlene s Flowers business. That followed the justices’ decision in a different case involving a Colorado baker who declined to make a cake for a same-sex wedding.
Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene s Flowers in Richland, Washington, is seen here in her shop. | (Photo: ADF/Screengrab)
The U.S. Supreme Court has vacated a ruling from Washington state s highest court against a Christian florist who was punished for refusing to provide services for a same-sex wedding.
Arlene s Flowers, Inc. v. Washington et al and sent the case back to the state Supreme Court for further consideration.
In their order, the Supreme Court cited
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in which the Justices ruled 7-2 that baker Jack Phillips was mistreated by the commission when they decided to punish him for refusing to design a cake for a same-sex wedding in 2012, when same-sex marriage wasn t legal in that state.
Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene s Flowers, poses for a photo outside of her Richland, Washington, floral shop. | (Photo: Alliance Defending Freedom)
Barronelle Stutzman, the Christian florist who was sued in 2013 by a longtime gay friend for refusing to provide flowers for his same-sex wedding, has said that the ongoing case has turned her life upside down. I often wonder what would happen if the tables were turned, she positioned in an op-ed for Fox News published on Saturday. I find it hard to believe that if a lesbian floral artist served a Christian customer for years but declined to create special arrangements for his religious rally opposing same-sex marriage, the attorney general [Bob Ferguson] would accuse her of discriminating against Christians. So why does he insist that I am discriminating against gays and lesbians? she asked.