The Human Rights Commission of New Mexico ruled on Wednesday that an evangelical Christian photographer discriminated against a lesbian couple because he refused a job to photograph the couple’s same-sex commitment ceremony.
The commission ordered Elaine and Jon Huenins, owners of Elane Photography in Albuquerque, N.M., to pay the lesbian couple $6,600 in attorney fees.
“It is just a stunning disregard for the First Amendment,” said Jordan Lorence, a senior legal counsel for the Scottsdale, Arizona based Alliance Defense Fund, which is representing the photographer couple in court. “W e will appeal this ruling to state district court,” Lorence told Cybercast News Service.
A couple of observations.
First of all, if the lesbian couple was only awarded what it cost to sue the photographer, then what is the point? It seems that the only benefactor here is the lawyer who sued.
Secondly, am I susceptible to a future lawsuit because I won’t provide my business services to a web site promoting homosexuality for example because it conflicts with my religious beliefs?
Ludicrous I say!
