{"id":17050,"date":"2015-07-02T21:33:59","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T21:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/?p=17050"},"modified":"2015-07-02T21:33:59","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T21:33:59","slug":"scotus-gay-marriage-ruling-creates-chaos-throughout-christian-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/?p=17050","title":{"rendered":"SCOTUS Gay Marriage Ruling Creates Chaos Throughout Christian America"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christian Farmers Fined $13,000 for Refusing to Host Same-Sex Wedding Fight Back<\/h1>\n

The DAILY SIGNAL<\/p>\n

\"150625_GiffordsAppeal_Harkness-1250x650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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The owners of a small family farm in upstate New York fined $13,000 for discriminating against a same-sex couple for refusing to host a wedding on their property are fighting back.<\/p>\n

In an appeal filed today before an appellate division of the New York Supreme Court, a lawyer for Cynthia and Robert Gifford, owners of Liberty Ridge Farm near\u00a0Albany, N.Y., argued that when finding them guilty, the court did not consider their constitutional freedoms and religious beliefs.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The decision] violates the Giffords\u2019 free exercise of religion, freedom of expressive association, and freedom of expression protected under the United States and New York Constitutions,\u201d James Trainor, an allied attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, wrote in the appeal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Giffords were found guilty of \u201csexual orientation discrimination\u201d by an administrative law judge last July.<\/p>\n

Because Liberty Ridge Farm is open to the public for seasonal activities such as an annual fall festival, the state of New York classifies it as a public accommodation<\/a> that therefore cannot discriminate on the basis of certain personal characteristics, including sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscrimination in the name of civil rights is as abhorrent as discrimination which does violence to the concept of civil rights,\u201d wrote the administrative law judge.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued to press today, Trainor said the judge\u2019s order \u201cforces the Giffords to host same-sex ceremonies or to host no wedding ceremonies at all.\u201d He added:<\/p>\n

The government is essentially saying to the Giffords, give up your faith, or give up your livelihood.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The conflict began on Sept. 25, 2012, when Melisa Erwin and Jennifer McCarthy, a lesbian couple, called the Giffords to ask them to host their same-sex wedding at Liberty Ridge Farm.<\/p>\n

The Giffords live on the second and third floor of the barn and, when they host weddings on the first floor, open part of the second floor as a bridal suite.<\/p>\n

Not wanting to go against her beliefs of traditional marriage, Cynthia Gifford politely declined the request. Unbeknownst to the Christian couple, the caller recorded their conversation. Shortly thereafter, the lesbian couple filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not hateful people,\u201d Gifford said in an interview with The Daily Signal, holding back tears. \u201cWe just believe that a marriage is between a man and a woman, and we do not want to hold a [same-sex] marriage ceremony here on our family farm because the state tells us we have to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As punishment, the government fined the family $10,000 and ordered them to pay an additional $3,000 to the women. The Giffords were also required to attend staff re-education training classes to teach the state\u2019s viewpoint on marriage. These are the stipulations that the family is challenging with their appeal this week.<\/p>\n