Local florist refuses to service same-sex marriage
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RICHLAND, Wash. -- A business in Richland has some residents claiming discrimination, while others say it's a business owners' right of refusal. Arlene's Flower Shop is now on the defense after the owner refused to supply flowers for a same-sex wedding.
“He said he decided to get married, and before he got through I grabbed his hand and said, ‘I am sorry. I can't do your wedding because of my relationship with Jesus Christ,’" said Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flower Shop. With 37 years in the flower business, Barronelle Stutzman has made bouquets for hundreds of weddings, but has only ever turned down one.
“We hugged each other and he left, and I assumed that was the end of the story,” she said. But, in a twist that Stutzman never saw coming, that story was only the beginning. "It hit Facebook and it exploded," she said.
After being denied, Robert Ingersoll and his partner took their story online. In two days it went viral in the Tri-Cities. Arlene's little Facebook page boasting 166 likes, soon had hundreds of comments streaming in from “Hypocrite...you will burn in hell” to “Thank you for standing up for Christ,” Stutzman soon even had threats of violence. “I would like my building to stay, not burn down," she countered.
But the attacks don't faze the flower shop owner, Stutzman said it's hardened her resolve. “It's a personal conviction…it’s not a matter of being right or wrong. It's my belief."
Stutzman believes she's right to refuse, but the state says she is not legally allowed to. Sexual orientation is considered a protected class and you cannot discriminate against a protected class in Washington.
“She doesn't have the right to say no,” said one man across the street from her shop. “If people want to buy flowers they should be able to buy flowers.” “I disagree with her,” said Mallory Flesher. “They deserve to have flowers, too."
Stutzman knows she could lose business for her comments. “If they choose to go somewhere else that's ok," she said. She also knows some will chose to stay for the very same reason.
“It's good for her,” said Chrissy Reed. “I would do the same thing, because I believe the same."
Stutzman says she would do the same again too; she’s not apologizing for her actions. But she does want to take away the hurt it’s caused the couple, "I do feel bad this has caused so much turmoil and anger."
KEPR talked with Robert Ingersoll on Monday night. He said it felt like he was getting rejected by a friend, because the couple had done business with Stutzman for over a decade. He said he had no idea she felt the way she did. Ingersoll said he and his partner have lost nights of sleep over the issue. He said he hopes that the anger and fighting on Facebook can stop, so peace and acceptance can prevail.
“He said he decided to get married, and before he got through I grabbed his hand and said, ‘I am sorry. I can't do your wedding because of my relationship with Jesus Christ,’" said Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flower Shop. With 37 years in the flower business, Barronelle Stutzman has made bouquets for hundreds of weddings, but has only ever turned down one.
“We hugged each other and he left, and I assumed that was the end of the story,” she said. But, in a twist that Stutzman never saw coming, that story was only the beginning. "It hit Facebook and it exploded," she said.
After being denied, Robert Ingersoll and his partner took their story online. In two days it went viral in the Tri-Cities. Arlene's little Facebook page boasting 166 likes, soon had hundreds of comments streaming in from “Hypocrite...you will burn in hell” to “Thank you for standing up for Christ,” Stutzman soon even had threats of violence. “I would like my building to stay, not burn down," she countered.
But the attacks don't faze the flower shop owner, Stutzman said it's hardened her resolve. “It's a personal conviction…it’s not a matter of being right or wrong. It's my belief."
Stutzman believes she's right to refuse, but the state says she is not legally allowed to. Sexual orientation is considered a protected class and you cannot discriminate against a protected class in Washington.
“She doesn't have the right to say no,” said one man across the street from her shop. “If people want to buy flowers they should be able to buy flowers.” “I disagree with her,” said Mallory Flesher. “They deserve to have flowers, too."
Stutzman knows she could lose business for her comments. “If they choose to go somewhere else that's ok," she said. She also knows some will chose to stay for the very same reason.
“It's good for her,” said Chrissy Reed. “I would do the same thing, because I believe the same."
Stutzman says she would do the same again too; she’s not apologizing for her actions. But she does want to take away the hurt it’s caused the couple, "I do feel bad this has caused so much turmoil and anger."
KEPR talked with Robert Ingersoll on Monday night. He said it felt like he was getting rejected by a friend, because the couple had done business with Stutzman for over a decade. He said he had no idea she felt the way she did. Ingersoll said he and his partner have lost nights of sleep over the issue. He said he hopes that the anger and fighting on Facebook can stop, so peace and acceptance can prevail.
Leviticus 18:22 reads âThou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.â
Jesus said  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." ~Matthew 5:17
Reading some of your guys post , Whos gossipping ? May the LORD GOD be with her and help her . This is so ugly what is happening to her , She has her "RIGHTS" too or did we all for get about that. What hateful people we have become ! I pray for this lady and I will back her up in every way I can . May the LORD be with you all who suport her. I also pray that we all look at are selfs before we hate on others for it says in Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from the that nature will reap DESTRUCTION; the one who sows to please the spirit , from the spirit will reap ETERNAL LIFE. I dose say in the BIBLE that if your brother is sinning and you say nothing his blood is on YOUR hands, If you tell your brother and he still walks in sin his blood is on his own hands. I have said my peace and backed it up with GODS word.            Â
âShe doesn't have the right to say no,â - when did we start living in communist russia.
People who know her say she is vicious gossip and it doesnt matter if you are gay or straight. If she knows something about you that you would rather keep private, she has already told all of her customers. She is not a good person, not a christian, and should lose her business license.
âStutzman says she would do the same again too; sheâs not apologizing for her actions.â
The Jesus with whom you have your relationship, Baronelle, is the one who will judge you in the end for all of this. You were presented with an opportunity to behave in a Christlike manner, and not only did you abandon your friend and customer, you remain stubbornly adamant that your beliefs are correct and that your actions were righteous. Do you honestly feel in your heart that you are correct?
May every petal, that Robert Ingersoll ever bought from you, and every smile that you ever saw on his face, and every tear that Jesus now weeps for your misguided actions and claims of piety haunt you for the rest of your life.
Those of us that believe that Arlene's Baronelle is within her rights to refuse service based on her religious convictions, need to formalize that support. A legal defense fund should be set up in one of the local banks where supporters can contribute. I doubt that any small business as Arlene's could afford a court battle against the ACLU and like-minded liberal organizations. Mark my word, there WILL BE court action on this issue and Arlene will need all the help she can get to defend her decision.
I think a Christian Friends Of Our Florist Defense Fund should be set up with Key Bank right next door to her shop. Then those of us, a clear majority, that believe that independent business owners have a right to choose who they serve can stand tall. It's time for us to put our money where are beliefs are.
I'd also like to see our three state Christian Olypmia Representatives weigh in on the issue and write legislation in the future to prevent such a misapplication of the rule of law. Â
@RandallR she probably has umbrella insurance- if she's smart. Don't throw money at her or you will be as bad as she is.
@RandallR - religious freedom has no relevance here. She denied them the ability to purchase flowers she would sell to anyone else. Washington's Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) forbids discrimination against someone for their sexual orientation in public accommodations - that includes businesses that offer goods and services - and that includes Stutzman. So go ahead and raise money to defend a lawbreaker. Bigotry has no place in commerce.
Where in the Bible does it say you can't sell flowers to gay people, for whatever they feel like doing with them? This is not part of Christianity, denying commercial services to gay people. That's a personal belief, not a religious one.
@Jefferson Michigan  And she is certainly entitled to her belief. She is however not entitled by law to act out that belief upon others who have not only done her no harm but have supported her business.Â
And it is ironic that Jesus said a rather understanding thing about homosexuals. So she is not following Jesus for sure.Â
Matthew 19:12 -Â For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
@PlumStChili @Jefferson Michigan Please read the whole chapter before you spit nonsense like that out of your mouth, he is not saying that its ok to be gay, if you ever read about Paul you would understand this, please don't take one verse and try to twist it to your liking. If your going to stick up for your beliefs I have no problem with that, but understand what your saying before you say it.
She has a right to her beliefs, however, by accepting a business license from the State of Washington, she needs to abide by the laws of the State of Washington. She didn't follow those laws when she discriminated against this couple. That's the bottom line here. It has nothing to do with personal conviction - we are all entitled to that - but when engaged in commerce licensed by the government, there are laws that must be followed.  Just like Target can't tell somebody who is black that they won't let them shop there, this lady can't discriminate in her business either.
This woman has the right to her beliefs. If the couple doesn't get the service they want let them go elsewhere. They seem to want to turn this into something so much more. It is not a Hate crime. Go somewhere else. There are florists all over the Tri-Cities that would be more than happy to take your money!
May the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you lady for standing on the word of the Lord.
@PeepHoles  She did not follow Christ. Christ had no issue with homosexuality.  Christ said: For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it. Read the book you thump before you thump it.Â
So if a Muslim wants to execute gays we have to let him because its 'his religious beliefs." A kkk member can refuse flowers to black couple's wedding because its 'his religious beliefs.' A mormon  can therefore have 50 wives because its ''his religious beliefs.' Light of the World member refuses to to have fire exits in his business because its "against his religious beliefs." A jehovah's witness ER doctor refuses to give a patient a blood transfusion OR disregards no trespassing laws because its "against his religious beliefs." All I have to do to be exempt from the law is to say that it goes against my "religious beliefs." Is there are religion that believes speeding tickets are a "sin?"
Ones religious convections cannot be surrendered by force of the State.. If this were a Muslim store refusing to sell to Gays, not a word would be said.. You know it and I know it.. Only because it is Politically Correct to attack the Christian Faith on the issues of Gay so called Rights is this happening...   Christians see Homosexuality as a sin to be punished by God and choose not to enable the practice.. Muslims HATE homosexuals and behead them if given the chance, check the laws of Islamic nations.... So why doesn't the Gays go to a flower shop that will serve them without all this fuss?
@Ballistic45 Just a minute here, this is nothing more than a hypocrite using the "Christian Faith" as an excuse. She took how many orders in the past all along knowing they were GAY and to say no to this one speaks volumes on her position of claiming it's against her so called religion! So how is it OK to take GAY money but it's not OK being GAY is that not what the "Christian Faith" claim by going around saying it's against GOD to be GAY? I would think doing business with anyone GAY like she had is not living as the "Christian Faith" belief and she should ask for forgiveness. As you point out it's a known fact how the Muslims feel against being GAY but I have not been made aware of any that do business with the GAY as well as anyone GAY doing business with the Muslims. And by the way this posting is coming from one that was raised in and by the "Southern Primitive Baptist" belief!Â
@JustPerkey @Ballistic45 so you have worked with her in the past? How else would you know that she has sold to other gay people?
@JustPerkey@Ballistic45- If the use of a product is to promote or enable an act that is contrary to ones Religious beliefs, then that Proprietor has a right to refuse service on religious grounds.. Examples: if a Gay buys flowers for a funeral, no problem it isn't supporting an act of homosexuality.. If a Gay buys flowers for a lover and fails to tell the Proprietor then the Proprietor has no grounds for refusal... If a Gay tells the Proprietor the flowers being bought is for a gay wedding, the proprietor has every right to refuse service on the grounds of Religious beliefs...
1st Amendment:Â Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF;Â Â
Liberals love the first part but chose to ignore the last part in CAPS......@Ballistic45 @JustPerkey  Please tell me what "an act of homosexuality" is? I cannot wait.Â
 Letâs say that the KKK wants to sponsor a cross burning, and they come to you because you own the Southern Primitive Babtist lumber company, to buy the wood for there cross. Should you be forced by law to sell them lumber, even though you are totally against the act of cross burning and what it stands for??
@EASTSIDE 1 Yeah, nice try. The KKK is not a person, it's a thing. We're talking about real human beings here. Yes, gay people are human beings.