A nother victim of the ‘cult of victimology’.
Christian Photographer Hauled before Commission for Refusing Same-Sex Job
By John Jalsevac
New Mexico, January 30, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The case of a Christian photographer who refused to photograph a same-sex “commitment ceremony”, was heard before the New Mexico Human Rights Division on Monday.
A same-sex couple asked Elaine Huguenin, co-owner with her husband of Elane Photography, to photograph a “commitment ceremony” that the two women wanted to hold. Huguenin declined because her Christian beliefs are in conflict with the message communicated by the ceremony.
The same-sex couple filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Division, which is now trying Elane Photography under state anti discrimination laws for sexual orientation discrimination.
The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a legal alliance that is dedicated to defending and protecting religious freedom, sanctity of life, marriage, and family, is currently defending Elane Photography.
“On Monday we defended Elane Photography in court, saying basically that no person should be required to help others advance a message that they disagree with,” ADF Senior Counsel and Senior Vice-President of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Jordan Lorence, told LifeSiteNews in an interview today. “That’s a basic First Amendment principle. The government is punishing Elaine photography for refusing to take photos which obviously advance the messages sent by the same-sex ceremony - that marriage can be defined as two women or two men.”
In their complaint the homosexual couple has sought for an injunction against Elane Photography that will forbid them from ever again refusing to photograph a same-sex ceremony. They have also requested attorney’s fees.
“Depending on how far up the ladder this goes of appeal that could be a lot of money,” said Lorence. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Lorence said that the ADF is framing its case in a similar fashion to the 1995 Supreme Court “Hurley” Case. “In the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade case the US Supreme Court said that the State of Massachusetts could not punish a privately run parade because it refused to allow a homosexual advocacy group to carry banners and signs in the parade. They said that would be compelled speech, ordering the parade organizers to help promote a message they do not want to promote. To apply the discrimination law that way violates freedom of speech. We are making a similar kind of argument in this case.”
Lorence said that this current case is demonstrative of a “tremendous threat” facing those with traditional views on marriage and family.
“I think that this is a tremendous threat to First Amendment rights. Those who are advocating for same-sex marriage and for rights based upon sexual orientation keep arguing, ‘We are not going to apply these against churches. We are going to protect people’s right of conscience. We are all about diversity and pluralism.’”
But, in practice, says Lorence, “Business owners with traditional views or church owners with traditional definitions of marriage are now vulnerable for lawsuits under these nondiscrimination laws. There are 20 states that have these laws where they ban sexual orientation discrimination. Most of the major cities in the United States also have these kinds of ordinances. So these are a big threat, as the federal government debates whether to make this a blanket nationwide law.
“We see that these [non-discrimination laws] are not rectifying some unjust discrimination, but being used to punish those who speak out in favor of traditional marriage and sexual restraint,” he concluded.
Lorence said that the ADF is “cautiously optimistic that the commission will do the right thing.” If the New Mexico Commission, however, decides against Elane Photography, Lorence said that the ADF would appeal the decision all the way up to the US Supreme Court if necessary.
(c) Copyright: LifeSiteNews.com.
On an unrelated note. Please have patience as I am experimenting with various font sizes etc. Until I decide what works or not, my site look will be a bit out of whack.
Update:
Elaine Huguenin
Elane Photography
http://www.elanephotography.com/
Albuquerque, NM
Ms. Vanessa Willock vs. Elane Photography
Here is the probable cause for a hearing complaint letter (Pdf.)
And the charge of discrimination. (Pdf.) including this screen cap.
H/T Clayton Cramer
What say ye, naysayers?
What of the fact that Willock was first told Elane Photography “only photographs traditional weddings”?
And she needed a clarification? Is she thick?
Begging for a reason to lodge charges against Elane Photography?
Hmm…
Welcome Range Finder Forum Readers!
This update above should clear up any creditability issues some of you may have regarding this news.
Update 2:
What have we here?
Well guess what, it seems Ms. Vanessa Willock is something of an expert on the matter, as she is currently an EEO Compliance Representative with the Office of Equal Opportunity where she investigates claims of discrimination and sexual harassment. Not to mention a member of the Diversity Committee at University of New Mexico…
New Mexico ‘Human Rights’ Commission Found Christian Photographer Guilty
22 responses so far ↓
1 Seane-Anna // Feb 7, 2008 at 11:30 pm
What an outrage! I haven’t seen or heard anything about this anywhere else. I’ll be praying Elane Photography prevails in it’s battle to preserve the God-given rights of freedom of speech and freedom of conscience.
2 Velvet Hammer // Feb 7, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Mind blowing isn’t it?
Who exactly is being discriminated against? Hmm…
I wonder if it may of been intentional…
If you click on the link. You can find all sorts of cases against Christians.
Thanks for stopping by!
3 Neil // Feb 9, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I wish it had been a Muslim photographer. That would have made it more interesting! I bet the Commission wouldn’t have touched that one. Thanks for exposing this violation of the 1st Amendment!
4 Velvet Hammer // Feb 9, 2008 at 2:59 pm
lol Neil Of course if it were a Muslim photog it would of been hands off. What does that say about how Christians are treated and how Muslims are given preferential treatment? In America no less.
Pitiful,…just pitiful.
5 Political correctness has consequences « 4Simpsons Blog - Eternity Matters // Feb 10, 2008 at 8:18 am
[…] Christian photographer hauled before Human Rights Commission for refusing same-sex job. I wish it would have been a Muslim photographer. That would have […]
6 Why They Call it Homo Phobia « Fitness for the Occasion // Feb 11, 2008 at 9:16 am
[…] there are some interesting issues to discuss here, without getting frantic. 1, Christian photographer hauled before Human Rights Commission for refusing same-sex job. I wish it would have been a Muslim photographer. That would have […]
7 Sunflower Desert // Feb 11, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Wow Velvet! Granted, I haven’t been online much, but this is the first I’ve heard of this.
Here’s to hoping the Alliance Defense Fund kicks some butt. It makes me happy that Tieki Rae wants to work for this organization in the future. When that happens, butt will be kicked! Lol!
Hope all is going well for you V.
8 Christian Photographer Hauled Before Commission For Refusing Same-Sex Job at Sunflower Desert // Feb 11, 2008 at 12:48 pm
[…] been extremely busy, but I know I need to post. So, I’m going to hat tip the lovely VelvetHammer and copy her post. Many of you may have already seen this at Velvet’s place, but for those of […]
9 Velvet Hammer // Feb 11, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Hiyas Tammi!
So good to see you.
How proud you must be of your Tieki! Heck I am proud just knowing such a fine upstanding young lady. This country could certainly use more like her.
Oh yeah! She will take care of business I am sure!
Tell her hello from me.
This is the most current info I can find on the case at Alliance Defense Fund. The hearing was scheduled on Jan. 28-29.
ADF attorney available to media following hearing in complaint against N.M. photographer
10 james d // Feb 11, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Change ‘photographer’ for, say, ’shop owner’ or ‘bus conductor’ and it takes on a whole different light.
11 Velvet Hammer // Feb 11, 2008 at 4:13 pm
The fact is that she is not a shop owner or a bus conductor. Now unless there has been same sex couples demanding that shop owners and bus conductors attend their commitment ceremonies your point is moot.
As their photographer she would of had to of been present at a same-sex commitment ceremony.
Which is against her religious beliefs.
12 Velvet Hammer // Feb 11, 2008 at 9:34 pm
As quoted from the LifeSiteNews article:
Elaine Huguenin
Elane Photography
http://www.elanephotography.com/
Albuquerque, NM
It took me all of two minutes to find the site.
13 Sunflower Desert // Feb 11, 2008 at 9:44 pm
You’re quick Velvet.
14 Velvet Hammer // Feb 11, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Yeah well I know how to read and Google.
Unlike some…
15 Phil Hoover // Feb 12, 2008 at 2:20 pm
What’s the latest on this one?
16 Mark // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:54 am
The reason we have anti-discrimination laws isn’t to target this particular merchant per se, but to prevent the far greater evil, which is one where ALL merchants refusing to transact with homosexuals or black people, or chinese, or immigrants.
It doesn’t make a difference if your discrimination springs from your religion, what your daddy taught you, or what happened to you as a kid. You see, most of the time (if not all of the time) when you exercise your “conscious” you are exercising discrimination, and that’s a violation of the law of the land.
17 Velvet Hammer // Feb 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm
There needs to be a ‘thin skin’ clause.
Both parties sensitivities should of canceled each other out.
18 Velvet Hammer // Feb 25, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Something to consider…
Sexual orientation” bill a danger to civil liberties
19 Mark // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:57 pm
A thin skin clause kind of defeats the entire idea of an anti-discrimination statute, doesn’t it?
Mark’s last blog post..dylan’s delight
20 New Mexico ‘Human Rights’ Commision Found Christian Phtographer Guilty // Apr 10, 2008 at 2:19 pm
[…] s I previously reported: A same-sex couple asked Elaine Huguenin, co-owner with her husband of Elane Photography, to […]
21 Velvet Hammer // Apr 16, 2008 at 8:08 pm
That is my point.
22 brenton // Jun 16, 2008 at 8:57 am
***Comment deleted***
Overtly racist, anti-semitic and discriminatory comments will not be allowed.
Take your ignorance elsewhere.
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