A New Mexico photographer was sued after a state human rights commission fined the photographer for declining to accept the business of a same-sex couple conducting a 2006 commitment ceremony. The photographer said that to shoot the ceremony – an unofficial act as same-sex weddings were not conducted in the state at the time – would have violated the company’s Christian beliefs.
After the couple emailed an inquiry to photographer Elaine Huguenin, “Huguenin responded that Elane Photography photographed only ‘traditional weddings’,” according to the New Mexico supreme court ruling, which continues: “[when] asked, ‘Are you saying that your company does not offer your photography services to same-sex couples?’ Huguenin responded, ‘Yes, you are correct in saying we do not photograph same-sex weddings,’ and thanked the couple for their interest.”
The commission required the photographer also pay the legal fees of the couple, Vanessa Willock and Misti Collinsworth. When the photographer appealed, the courts denied to hear the case.
Alan Sears, the president of the group and the author of the 2003 book The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today, vowed to continue to fight specifically on behalf of businesses that provide wedding-related services but do not want to work with same-sex couples. READ MORE >>
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