老澳门开奖结果

BELLEVUE, Wash. 鈥� The Washington State Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in the case in which a florist refused to sell flowers to a gay couple for their wedding.

A lower court ruled in 2015 that Arlene鈥檚 Flowers violated the state鈥檚 anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws by refusing service to the couple.

The 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Washington are representing Curt Freed and Robert Ingersoll in their lawsuit against the Richland florist for violating their rights.

Freed and Ingersoll have been a couple since 2004. In December 2012, soon after the state of Washington began recognizing the freedom to marry for gay couples, Freed proposed marriage to Ingersoll, and the two became engaged. They were planning for a wedding to be held on their anniversary in September 2013. Having purchased goods from Arlene鈥檚 Flowers on many occasions, Ingersoll asked the florist to arrange for flowers for the event. However, he was told that the business would not sell the couple flowers because of the owner鈥檚 religious beliefs.

Fearing further discrimination, they stopped planning for a larger wedding and ultimately decided to have a small wedding at their home.

鈥淲e were very disappointed to be denied service by Arlene鈥檚 Flowers after doing business with them for so many years. Planning our wedding should have been a joyful time in our lives, but instead we were hurt and saddened by being rejected for who we are,鈥� said Freed and Ingersoll.

鈥淲e respect everyone鈥檚 beliefs, but businesses that are open to the public have an obligation to serve everyone. We brought this lawsuit because we don鈥檛 want other couples to go through the experience that we did. We appreciate the support we have received from people across the globe.鈥�

Elizabeth Gill, a senior staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 LGBT Project, said, 鈥淩eligious freedom is a fundamental part of America. But religious beliefs do not give any of us a right to ignore the law or to harm others because of who they are. When people, gay or straight, black, brown, or white go to a business, they should be treated equally and not be discriminated against.鈥�

The Washington Law Against Discrimination guarantees the right to be free from discrimination in public accommodations based on race, creed, national origin, sex, or sexual orientation, among other characteristics. Thus, it prohibits businesses that are open to the general public from refusing to sell goods, merchandise, or services because of a person鈥檚 sexual orientation. In its ruling, the superior court said, 鈥淒efendants鈥� refusal to 鈥榙o the flowers鈥� for Ingersoll and Freed鈥檚 wedding based on her religious opposition to same sex marriage is, as a matter of law, a refusal based on Ingersoll and Freed鈥檚 sexual orientation in violation of the WLAD.鈥�

The florist appealed the ruling directly to the state Supreme Court. Civil rights groups, LGBT groups, large and small businesses, faith groups, and bar associations have submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the couple.

Representing Ingersoll and Freed for the 老澳门开奖结果 are cooperating attorneys Michael Scott, Amit Ranade, and Jake Ewart of Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson P.S.; 老澳门开奖结果 of Washington staff attorney Margaret Chen; and 老澳门开奖结果 LGBT and HIV Project Staff Attorney Elizabeth Gill.

For more information, visit: /cases/ingersoll-v-arlenes-flowers