Judge rules florist illegally refused to work same-sex wedding over 'relationship with Jesus Christ'

Judge rules that florist illegally refuse to do flower arrangements for a same-sex wedding
(Image credit: iStock)

A Washington florist who refused to provide arrangements for a same-sex couple's wedding broke state anti-discrimination laws, a judge ruled Wednesday.

In 2013, florist Baronelle Stutzman turned down a gay couple's request to provide arrangements for their wedding, explaining in a deposition she couldn't do it "because of my relationship with Jesus Christ." That decision prompted two lawsuits, the first from the couple and the second from Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the latter of whom successfully argued the refusal ran afoul of state consumer protection laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.