I try, I really do try. Making a conscious effort to stay away from the political nonsense perpetrated on the American people seems to be a full time job. The TV news outlets like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and the like all taint their broadcasts with opinion, conjecture and prophesy. It’s DOOM if we listen to the other guy and accept their policies. At what point are we going to hear how our legislative branches and parties are willingly working together for the best possible outcome for the 300 million citizens counting on them? This also includes the Executive Branch as well as the Judicial. In the case of Elane Photography, I am disturbed by the latter.
Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin are co-owners of Elane Photography. They were approached to provide photographic services for an impending wedding. When they met with the prospective couple, the Huguenins found out the couple were lesbians. Elaine explained this was outside their beliefs as Christians and respectfully declined the assignment. The couple moved on without incident, finding a willing photographer for less money and willing to perform the services. Despite the obvious advantages gained by Elane Photography turning the job down, the couple filed a discrimination suit against the business. At the time, the state of New Mexico did not have laws on the books for legal gay marriage or civil unions. The “sexual orientation discrimination” lawsuit was brought before the Human Rights Commission and the Huguenins were found guilty of discrimination. The decision was upheld by the New Mexico Supreme Court in August of 2013. Elane Photography was ordered to pay the couple nearly $7,000 in damages. In a concurring opinion by one of the justices, the Huguenins are “now compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives,” as “the price of citizenship.”
What appears on the outside to be a ruling for discriminatory behavior shows that, on the inside, the very fabric of this country’s founding is under attack. Our forefathers escaped England because of religious persecution, and now the penalties of following your religion are being levied by those attempting to uphold the tenet of “land of the free.” This dilemma continued with the ultimate slap in the face when the United States Supreme Court denied the case to be heard. So to sum this up, the government has trampled the rights of its citizens to benefit another.
I’m not sure this is the intent or the spirit of the law meant to protect the “right” of all citizens. For discrimination to occur, the affected party must be able to show damage; there must be a disadvantage weighed upon the “victim” for it to be discrimination. The couple quickly found another photographer and for less money. Where is the disadvantage? Somebody voices their honest opinion, states they don’t agree with someone’s lifestyle, and are penalized for it? The Huguenins did not go out of their way to offend or damage the lesbian couple, they merely declined the job and the compensation that came with it in the name of their beliefs. They were approached by the couple, not the other way around.
So we, as a society, are going to start prosecuting people not only because of their religious beliefs, but their opinions? What would have happened if Elane Photography were denied the job because they are heterosexual or Christian? Would the same law be applied? Pretty sure, the last time I checked, the First Amendment was still intact. Can we please find a way to work together, so all people can live without the threat of prosecution AND persecution?
