Can they be forced into it?

[John Allo]

Same-Sex Couple Accuses Innkeepers of Discrimination
June 30, 2005

(CNSNews.com) - Should a Vermont couple, wedding planners, be forced to host a same-sex civil union ceremony at their family-owned inn, if they object to such unions?

A lesbian couple says yes, and it has filed a discrimination charge against the innkeepers, accusing them of violating Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act.

The innkeepers, identified only as Jim and Mary, say they did not refuse to plan or host the reception - but Jim did tell the woman who called him that he would have a hard time putting his heart into the event, given his Roman Catholic beliefs about marriage.

The Liberty Counsel, which is representing Jim and Mary, has asked that the discrimination charge against them be dismissed on the grounds that the innkeepers, although they expressed reservations about the civil union ceremony, did not refuse to plan and host the event.

The Liberty Counsel says there must be an exemption to the discrimination charge based upon the free exercise of religion, free association, and the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. (Jim and Mary have eight children who help run the inn, which is located on the same property as the family's home.)

"This case seeks to authorize the government to become thought police," said Mathew Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel.

"This case also illustrates the radical nature of the same-sex agenda - to target a family-owned inn based upon one telephone call wherein the [innkeeper] clearly admits that he
could not put his heart into a same-sex civil union ceremony.

"Forget tolerance - this case is about forcing others to endorse same-sex unions."

Link

[dj4sale]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>given his Roman Catholic beliefs about marriage.
[/b][/quote]
Do they allow unmarried couples stay as guests in the rooms. That is against the RC.

I didn't know that the Roman Catholic church made the laws for the State of Vermont.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'> "Forget tolerance - this case is about forcing others to endorse same-sex unions."
[/b][/quote] If a same sex couple hires me, it does not mean I endorse their actions. I've done many weddings where the couple really was not a good match, but i did the gig, got paid, and let them go on with their OWN lives.

I'm not the Judge John...God is in my opinion.

sale

[djdonny]

I hope the couple loses. I'm certainly not against gay couples -- I've DJed for many of them. However, I don't believe the public should be able to force a business to perform functions they don't want to. Once the couple realizes the inn is not enthusiastic about providing services, they should just go to a different inn. If they want to provide gay weddings, they should be able to -- if they don't, they should be able to decline.

If the KKK asked to hire you as a DJ for one of their events, shouldn't you be able to choose NOT to do it?

[Wolfie]

Cheers, John.

I'm no expert on legal matters as you all know.

That being said, I will hazard a guess that the outcome of this case may hinge on the wording of the state's anti-discrimination laws.

Two words -- "sexual orientation". If the law as written when this occurred does not specifically address sexual orientation, the plaintiffs may be SOL.

There has been an effort to add those two words to Delaware's anti-discrimination code for a few years now. It's been hotly debated and gets stuck in committee or tabled every time.