Apparently, Barronelle Stutzman doesn’t know when to give up. In March of 2013, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, joined the religious douche bags in the service industry club growing list of service providers who refused to cater to gay clients when long-term customers Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed asked her to do the flowers for their wedding.
Despite having sold them flowers for nine years, she “politely” declined, citing her relationship with Jesus. But evidently Jesus forgot to tell her that her refusal was a violation of Washington’s anti-discrimination laws.
Before filing a suit against her, state attorney general Bob Ferguson gave her the opportunity to reconsider her stance, but she stood her ground, citing artistic freedom. (If you’re scratching your head on that one, her claim was that making floral arrangements “is a creative process [that] takes artistic talent” and that “all artists consider what they do to be an expression.”)
Now, nearly two years later, Stutzman is back in court. On Friday, attorneys for both the state and the couple asked a judge to find her guilty of discrimination without going through with a trial, arguing that all parties agree on the relevant points of the case.
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The Tri-City Herald reports that Stutzman now says turned the couple down because she “believed Ingersoll was asking her to provide full wedding support, which would have included tasks such as creating floral arrangements, greeting guests and supporting the wedding party.”
While we’ve never heard of a florist greeting guests at a wedding, Stutzman’s attorney, Kristen Waggoner, argued that what’s crucial here is Stutzman’s belief that that’s what she was expected to do.
Rather than focusing on what Ingersoll said or meant when he made the request, Waggoner said, what’s important is “what Barronelle understood and what motivated her to act. There’s no way that what motivated her to act was the fact that he was gay, because she’d lovingly served him — and even talked [with him] about his relationship with Mr. Freed — for nine years. … They had a warm and friendly relationship,” Waggoner told the judge.
Perhaps Stutzman was following that secret 11th commandment, “Thou shalt sell flowers to gay folks except when it’s for a wedding.”
The judge made no decision on Friday.
Stache99
“she “believed Ingersoll was asking her creating floral arrangements”
There I fixed it. What a lying cow. She knew full well who she was selling to for 9 years.Reason # 1001 why I hate these hypocrites.
jks1113
Why don’t these “because of Jesus” nutbags…that don’t want to do business with us, JUST paint big white crosses on the front of their stores….and I’m sure we will be glad to take our business SOME WHERE ELSE, along with a lot of other people as well!
DarkZephyr
This is just an attempt to get her into trouble. Her lawyer is probably advising her to lie. Which is SO ironic given that she cited her religious beliefs as her reason for refusing to make the floral arrangement anyway. Lying breaks 8th (or 9th depending on which numbering you follow) commandment after all.
DarkZephyr
@DarkZephyr: get her OUT of trouble*
Bad Ass Biker
How stupid. Does she “greet guests” at the straight weddings she does flowers for?
Ron Jackson
She looks like a closet case. Just sayin’.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
That’s Saint Law’s mama! Ha ha ha!
David
If I could see a YouTube of her stoning someone to death who wasn’t a virgin when they married, or screaming adultress at a divorced client and refusing their wedding, then I’d believe it is a firmly held religious belief. Barring that, she’s just uncomfortable with gay people and is too lazy to try to get past it. Plus, I know from personal experience that self-righteous indignation can sometimes feel kind of “special.” How else can you make the news as a florist?
NoCagada
I’m surprised she didn’t claim that she BELIEVED she would be performing cunilingus on all the female guests…
DarkZephyr
@Ron Jackson: Oh GOD yes, she does.
@NoCagada: ROFLMAO
Merv
@NoCagada: LOL
KingKong
Why are some gay people so insistent on forcing homophobes to take their money?? These suits are ridiculous, business owners should be allowed to turn down money from whoever they want.
John
Funny cause she totally looks like a butch ‘ol lesbian
Damich
Then the bitch can file papers to turn that business on Main Street into a private club cutting flowers in her garage. Get the fuck out of here.
Stache99
@jks1113: Because just like everything else it’s only when it’s convenient.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
What a nasty old crunt…………………
ShaunNJ
What BS – she’s really grasping at straws here. A floral arrangement is generally in the scope of what a florist does when selling for a wedding or other events. Greeting guests and being part of wedding party is not -and she wasn’t asked to do so (I’ve never heard of it either). What she assumed should be irrelevant – being obtuse or delusional isn’t a valid argument. If Ingersoll and Freed bid her good evening and she assumes they meant give us the money in the register would Stutzman be able to mount a robbery claim?