US: Legal group defends photographers who refused same-sex wedding on basis of ‘artistic freedom’

A New Mexico legal group has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in favour of a wedding photography company that discriminated against a same-sex couple, pleading that “an artist must be free to create work that expresses what he or she believes.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) defended the case of Elane Photography, a company run by a husband and wife who disapprove of same-sex unions.

In August, the company lost its case after refusing to provide services to a lesbian couple due to the owners’ religious beliefs.

According to CitizenLink, ADF has called the ruling nothing less than a “chilling and unprecedented attack on freedom.”

Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence said: “We are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to make it clear that no American has to abandon their constitutionally protected freedoms just to make a living.

“No American should be punished or put out of business for disagreeing with the government’s opinion on a moral issue.”

ADF legal counsel Jim Campbell added: “Every artist must be free to create work that expresses what he or she believes and not be forced by the government to express opposing views.

“A government that can force anyone to promote messages against his or her will is a government out of control.”

The Court’s ruling back in August stated: “When you open a business, you are opening your doors to all people in your community, not just the select few who share your personal beliefs.”

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) responded that religious rights were being infringed upon on.

The ADF is a conservative Christian organisation that opposes what it calls “the promotion of the homosexual agenda.” In May, the organisation filed a lawsuit on behalf of a florist who refused to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding.

• Drag
• Jan 03

Start your engines! All 16 seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race US ranked from worst to best