The Patriot Post® · Rather Than Accommodate, Venue Drops All Weddings

Cynthia and Robert Gifford, owners of a New York wedding venue, were recently punished for refusing to host a same-sex wedding because of religious convictions. The couple was dealt a hefty fine by the New York State Division of Human Rights and told they must accommodate. Alliance Defending Freedom’s James Trainor, who is representing the Gifford family, announced to The Blaze, “Going forward, [the Giffords] have decided to no longer host any wedding ceremonies on their property (other than the ones already under contract). Since the order essentially compelled them to do all ceremonies or none at all, they have chosen the latter in order to stay true to their religious convictions, even though it will likely hurt their business in the short run.” We applaud the Giffords for standing firm in their faith and traditional view of marriage, but it’s unfortunate the family has chosen to shut down operations. Some would call a decision to reject the government’s demands altogether “civil disobedience.” But there is nothing unlawful about exercising a fundamental right protected by the Constitution. More…