Alliance Defending Freedom Has The Sadz

GoFundMe Clarifies Policy: You Can't Raise Money In Defense Of Discriminatory Acts

Last week GoFundMe yanked the fundraising page for Oregon's Sweet Cakes bakery after complaints that the money beg was in violation of their posted ban on "campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual acts." The cancellation spawned immediately outrage across Teabagistan and many calls for a boycott of GoFundMe. Today the crowdfunding site clarifies its policy to explicitly ban campaigns to support those charged with "discriminatory acts."

Today we’re updating our terms to help address some confusion around how GoFundMe goes about reviewing campaigns and deciding what will be permitted on our platform. Specifically, we would like to clarify that GoFundMe relies on information from law enforcement and government agencies to help determine what actions our team will take regarding questionable campaigns. We would also like to acknowledge that while we cannot conduct in-depth investigations on every campaign that is created, we do reserve the right to act on pertinent information as it becomes available to us. GoFundMe will not allow campaigns that benefit individuals or groups facing formal charges or claims of serious violations of the law. The amended term can be found under the ‘What’s Not Allowed’ section of our terms. We are also informing users that GoFundMe reserves the right to share the content from a deleted campaign with law enforcement, donors or stated beneficiaries who wish to file a police report about any misuse of fundraising proceeds.

The new banning language: "Campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts." The Heritage Foundation and Alliance Defending Freedom are ever so pissed:

The difference in the wording of the policy is significant because neither the Christian bakers—Aaron and Melissa Klein—nor the Washington florist who also had her account shut down broke any criminal laws. Instead, both businesses were found guilty of violating civil anti-discrimination laws. “GoFundMe has the freedom to make their own policies and do business with whom they choose. That’s what makes it so ironic and hypocritical that GoFundMe has done the bidding of a movement that wages war against this same freedom,” Greg Scott, a spokesman for Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal organization that assists in cases like the Kleins, told The Daily Signal. "GoFundMe has facilitated fundraising for inane things like sending a man to a stranger’s bachelor party, but have now cut off families who face financial ruin and who’ve had their fundamental freedoms obliterated by unjust government action. If there is a better example of a company and culture with its priorities and loyalties completely upside down, I can’t think of it."

Before the page was yanked supporters of Sweet Cakes had raised $114K. It appears that the bakery will still get that money.

KENTUCKY: Court Rules That Print Shop Can Refuse Gay Pride Messages

A rare win for Alliance Defending Freedom:

A Kentucky court ruled Monday that a Lexington printer is free to decline to print messages that conflict with his religious beliefs and that the government cannot force him to do otherwise. The Lexington-Fayette Urban Co unty Human Rights Commission ruled last year that Blaine Adamson of Hands On Originals must print messages that conflict with his faith on shirts that customers order from him. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Adamson appealed the ruling to the Fayette Circuit Court, which has now reversed the commission’s decision.  “The government can’t force citizens to surrender free-speech rights or religious freedom in order to run a small business, and this decision affirms that,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Jim Campbell, who argued before the court in Hands On Originals v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission. “The court rightly recognized that the law protects Blaine’s decision not to print shirts with messages that conflict with his beliefs, and that no sufficient reason exists for the government to coerce Blaine to act against his conscience in this way.”

I'll update this post when local news covers the ruling.

UPDATE: From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Fayette Circuit Judge James Ishmael issued a ruling Monday reversing the Lexington Human Rights Commission's 2014 decision that Hands On Originals violated Lexington's Fairness Ordinance. The ordinance, among other things, prohibits businesses from discriminating against people based on sexual orientation. Ray Sexton, executive director of the Lexington Human Rights Commission, said Monday that Ishmael's ruling is part of a continuing process. "We don't look at this as a loss," Sexton said Monday. "We look at it as a one-one tie right now."

The commission's board would consider its next step at a board meeting Monday evening, Sexton said. He said the board is likely to appeal Ishmael's decision. Ishmael's ruling "is nothing we weren't prepared for at the very beginning," Sexton said. Ishmael's ruling says that there is no evidence that Hands On Originals or its owners "refused to print the T-shirts in question based upon the sexual orientation of GLSA or its members or representatives. ... Rather, it is clear beyond dispute that (Hands On Originals) and its owners declined to print the T-shirts in question because of the message advocating sexual activity outside of a marriage between one man and one woman."

WASHINGTON: Court Fines Anti-Gay Florist $1000, Gives Her 60 Days To Pay

Via the Associated Press:

A Washington state florist who refused to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding was fined $1,000 Friday, plus $1 for court costs and fees. Benton County Superior Judge Alexander Ekstrom's ruling gives Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers and Gifts in Richland, Washington, 60 days to pay the state for her refusal to serve Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed when they sought to buy wedding flowers in 2013. Attorney General Bob Ferguson, whose office requested the fine, said in a statement Friday that the ruling is a reminder of the reach of Washington's anti-discrimination laws. "My primary goal has always been to end illegal discrimination," Ferguson said. "I'm pleased that today's ruling clearly prohibits discrimination against same-sex couples." Before Ferguson's office filed the consumer-protection lawsuit against Stutzman, it had sent her a letter asking for an agreement to no longer discriminate, which she refused. Ferguson's statement Friday said the office would not have sued if Stutzman had accepted the agreement.

The judge also ruled that the gay couple is entitled to damages, but he reserved setting that amount until the appeals process runs its course. The Alliance Defending Freedom is very upset. Via World Net Daily:

Kristen Waggoner, ADF senior counsel, said the award to Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson boils down to a government threat to Christians: “Surrender your religious liberty and free speech rights, or face personal and professional ruin.” Waggoner said the judgment Friday “affirms the court’s earlier decision that Barronelle must pay a penalty for her faith and surrender her freedom and conscience.”

“The penalty and fees imposed today are only the first punch,” Waggoner said. “The ACLU, on behalf of the same-sex couple also suing Barronelle, has asked the court to award them penalties, fees, and costs, which will financially devastate Barronelle’s business and personal assets – including taking this 70-year old grandmother’s retirement and personal savings. The message sent by the attorney general and the ACLU to the people of Washington is quite clear: surrender your religious liberty and free speech rights, or face personal and professional ruin.”

WND reported earlier when the state offered to settle its case for $2,001, but Stutzman rejected the offer out of hand. That was after Ekstrom authorized the state and the homosexual plaintiffs to pursue the business and personal assets of Stutzman, including her home, savings and retirement, in payment of damages and attorneys’ fees.

Sen. Ted Cruz, Hate Group Lackey

Responding to pressure from NOM, the Family Research Council, and Alliance Defending Freedom, Sen. Ted Cruz is seeking to have Congress repeal a new Washington DC law that requires all city universities to abide by local LGBT anti-discrimination laws. Pending action from Congress, the law will go into effect next month. Cruz's "disapproval resolution" would require passage from both chambers of Congress and the signature of President Obama. Which isn't going to happen, but hey, it will play well back in Texas.

ADF Nutjobs: LGBT Rights Laws Are Just Reverse Discrimination Against Christians

From the Alliance Defending Freedom:

Religious freedom and Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) ordinances are on a collision course. They cannot coexist. SOGIs prohibit discrimination in the facilities or accommodations open to the public – for example, restrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities. Sounds pretty good, right? In practice, however, these ordinances have been used to trample over others’ religious freedom by forcing individuals and business-owners to accept and endorse messages, ideas, and events that violate their deeply-held religious convictions. American citizens shouldn’t live in fear of being punished for what they say or believe, yet that is exactly what these ordinances open the door for.

Martyr Tour: Florist Goes To Fox News

Martyr Tour: Anti-Gay Washington Florist Speaks At Christian Broadcasters Confab

The National Religious Broadcasters convention is taking place in Nashville today, just in time for everybody there pack up and head over to CPAC in DC. Anti-gay Washington state florist Barronelle Stutzman was jut trotted out to tearfully declare that "God will not be mocked."

RELATED: Also making the rounds are the Oregon bakers.

Quote Of The Day - Baronelle Stutzman

"Washington's constitution guarantees us 'freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment.' I cannot sell that precious freedom. You are asking me to walk in the way of a well-known betrayer, one who sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver. That is something I will not do. Your offer reveals that you don't really understand me or what this conflict is all about. It's about freedom, not money. I certainly don't relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my freedom to honor God in doing what I do best is more important." - Florist Barronelle Stutzman, responding to the $2000 settlement offer made last week by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Stutzman is represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, who apparently hope to turn her case into a federal right to refuse to serve LGBT Americans.

WASHINGTON: Anti-Gay Florist Rejects $2000 Settlement, Prefers Martyrdom

Via the Associated Press:

A florist who refused to provide flowers for a gay wedding has rejected an offer from the Washington state attorney general to settle a discrimination case by paying a $2,000 fine and agreeing to sell bouquets for same-sex ceremonies in the future. “Our state would be a better place if we respected each other’s differences, and our leaders protected the freedom to have those differences,” Barronelle Stutzman wrote in a letter Friday to Attorney General Bob Ferguson. She wrote that gay couples are allowed to act on their views, but “because I follow the Bible’s teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, I am no longer free to act on my beliefs.” Stutzman, 70, owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, had earlier said she plans to appeal a judge’s ruling that she broke a state anti-discrimination law.

Perhaps obviously, Alliance Defending Freedom is hoping to turn Stutzman's case into a federal issue that would establish the national right to refuse to serve LGBT Americans.

Thomas Peters Has The Florist Sadz

Barronelle Stutzman is actually many years from being an octogenarian, but that doesn't work so well in the right's "little old lady" scenario.

WASHINGTON: Anti-Gay Florist Found Guilty In Public Accommodations Case

Via the Associated Press:

A judge has ruled that a florist in Washington state who refused to provide flowers to a gay couple for their wedding violated state consumer protection and anti-discrimination law. In an opinion Wednesday, Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom rejected arguments from the owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland that her actions were protected by her religious freedom. He said that while religious beliefs are protected by the First Amendment, actions based on those beliefs aren't necessarily. Courts have long held that lawmakers can prohibit discriminatory conduct, and the judge said florist Barronelle Stutzman broke the law when she refused to sell flowers for a same-sex wedding in 2013. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington welcomed the ruling.

The wailing has already begun at World Net Daily:

A judge in Washington on Wednesday authorized the “personal ruin” for a florist whose Christian faith prevented her from promoting a same-sex “marriage” and was sued by both the state and the homosexuals. Officials with the Alliance Defending Freedom confirmed that Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom granted a summary judgment in the case against Barronelle Stutzman, so the case won’t proceed to trial now. It had been scheduled for March 23. It was Ekstrom who said last month that Stutzman personally was liable for the claims against her, placing both her business assets and her home and savings at risk. The judge ordered that the state and the homosexuals, who each filed lawsuits, could collect damages and attorneys’ fees from Stutzman. “The message of these rulings is unmistakable: the government will bring about your personal and professional ruin if you don’t help celebrate same-sex marriage,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kristen Waggoner.

What was that we were just saying about the track record of Alliance Defending Freedom?

ATLANTA: Alliance Defending Freedom Sues City Over Fired Crackpot Fire Chief

Last month the ADF filed an EEOC complaint and today they filed a civil rights suit. Considering that their litigation track record rivals that of the Liberty Counsel, the former fire chief probably shouldn't hold his breath.

SLOVAKIA: Anti-Gay Referendum FAILS Miserably Despite Backing Of Pope Francis

While the official result won't be announced until tomorrow, 100% of the ballots have been tabulated and multiple local media outlets are reporting that Slovakia's anti-gay referendum has failed miserably after only 21.4% of eligible voters turned out. Local activists had urged LGBT rights supporters to stay home today and that result of that tactic can be seen in that all three anti-gay ballot questions (above) were overwhelmingly backed by those who did vote. Per Slovak law, a minimum of 50% of registered voters must cast a ballot for any referendum item to be enacted.

The referendum was forced by a petition campaign by the Catholic Church-affiliated Alliance For Family, which turned in a reported 400,000 signatures. Also backing today's vote were the US-based Alliance Defending Freedom, NOM, C-FAM, and the World Congress of Families. On Wednesday, Pope Francis urged Slovaks to vote, saying that he encourages "everyone to continue their efforts in defense of the family, the vital cell of society."

While Slovakia already bans same-sex marriage, the referendum was meant to stiffen that constitutional ban and make it more difficult to undo the ban legislatively.  Today's result is gigantic middle finger - not only to the Catholic Church - but to American anti-gay groups who are increasingly seeking overseas victories in order to justify their existence to their ever-dwindling number of supporters at home. We look forward to seeing if any of them bother to alert those supporters about today's utter humiliation in Slovakia.

SLOVAKIA: Low Voter Turnout Raises Hope That Anti-Gay Referendum Will Fail

Sources on Twitter are reporting a low voter turnout in some parts of Slovakia today, where a referendum backed by Pope Francis and multiple US-based Christian groups (list here) could affirm the already existing ban on same-sex marriage and forbid same-sex couples from adopting. According to the above Twitter user, some regions are reporting a 10% turnout so far, but at least one is claiming to have already met the 50% threshold. Per Slovak law, at least 50% of the country's 4.4M registered voters must cast a ballot for the bills to become enacted. The polls close at 4PM NYC time and official results are not expected until tomorrow. The referendum is costing Slovakia €6.3M and was forced by a petition campaign by the Catholic Church-affiliated Alliance For Family.

UPDATE: The polls are closing and we may get preliminary forecasts today. Stand by.

UPDATE II: In the comments, JMG reader Dave shares this ad in support of today's vote.

SLOVAKIA: Pope Francis Endorses Public Vote To Ban Gay Marriage & Adoption

Via J. Lester Feder at Buzzfeed:

Pope Francis gave his blessing on Wednesday to a referendum that would ban marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples in Slovakia, which will be voted on this Saturday. “I greet the pilgrims from Slovakia and, through them, I wish to express my appreciation to the entire Slovak church, encouraging everyone to continue their efforts in defense of the family, the vital cell of society,” Francis said during Wednesday’s general audience in Rome. “For first time in Slovak modern history the Catholic Church is heavily involved in political campaign,” said Martin Macko, executive director of the LGBT rights group Inokost. The Slovak referendum follows the success of a similar ballot measure in another Catholic-majority Eastern European country, Croatia, which adopted a ban on recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples in December.

As I reported in October 2014, this weekend's referendum is being pushed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, who filed a local amicus brief even though Slovakia had already approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in June 2014, earning lavish praise from Brian Brown. The coming vote would essentially affirm that ban and widen it to include any recognition of same-sex relationships. Two related bills on the ballot would ban same-sex couples from adopting children and allow parents to withdraw their children from sex education classes.

Last week Right Wing Watch reported that Brown sent out an email blast asking supporters to join an anti-gay petition launched by CitizenGo, the Madrid-based anti-gay group where he serves on the board of directors. The petition urges Slovaks to vote in favor of the bills. Also supporting this weekend's vote is the World Congress of Families, another group Brown works with. In September 2014 Brown and World Congress of Families leaders attended a Kremlin summit which concluded with a formal written call for more nations to impose Russian-style anti-gay legislation.

Yet another organization backing the referendum is C-FAM, the viciously anti-gay Catholic group headed by Breitbart columnist Austin Ruse (above right), who was fired by the American Family Association last year after declaring during an AFA radio guest-hosting gig that liberal college professors should "all be taken out and shot." From C-FAM's website:

As was to be expected, the sodomist pressure group inside the European Parliament is furious. While they had no problem with narrow parliamentary majorities redefining marriage to include same-sex “marriages” in France, Spain, and other countries (usually without the matter having been discussed in the preceding electoral campaigns…), they abhor the idea that ordinary people should have their say on the matter. Sophie Veld, a Dutch MEP and leader of the homosexualist and pro-abortion lobby, described the forthcoming referendum as “distasteful”, thereby betraying her own rather selective adherence to human rights and democratic procedures. We, however, are looking forward to the outcome of this democratic vote.

Buzzfeed notes that the local Catholic Church is being evasive about their role in the referendum:

The leadership body of the Catholic Church in the country, the Conference of Slovak Bishops, has walked an awkward line around the referendum. On the one hand, the bishops have given full-throated support to the proposal, including endorsing the referendum in a televised mass and pastoral letter on Feb. 1. The conference also appears to have solicited funds to support the Alliance for Family through a page on its official website. On the other hand, it has bristled at the suggestion that the referendum is the creation of the church. “The referendum itself is an initiative of civil society; it’s not primarily of the church,” said the conference’s spokesman, Father Martin Kramara, in an interview with BuzzFeed News.

Per Slovakian law, at least 50% of all registered voters must cast a ballot in order for a law to be valid. That rule reportedly gives local LGBT activists some hope and they are urging Slovaks not to vote at all rather than vote against the three proposed bills. But with Pope Francis now aligning himself with some of the most powerful US-based anti-gay hate groups, that tactic may prove futile, particularly because of Slovakia's small population.

Still, the Economist notes that three out of four recent national referendums failed to meet the 50% threshold, with only the 2003 vote to join the European Union succeeding. Should the bills be approved, LGBT activists have vowed to take the issue to EU courts. Whatever the outcome, Slovakia will remain the leading example of US-based religious groups off-shoring their hatred of LGBT people because they increasingly find little traction at home. Our wins are the world's loss.

ATLANTA: Former Fire Chief Files Religious Discrimination Complaint With Feds

Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has filed a federal discrimination complaint contending he faced religious discrimination when the City fired him after he published a book that contained controversial statements about homosexuality. Cochran swore out the complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by the City of Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Attorney Jonathan Crumly filed an EEOC complaint Wednesday on behalf of Cochran, who was fired this month after complaints about his self-published 2013 book, “Who Told You You Are Naked?” “Americans are guaranteed the freedom to live without fear of losing their jobs because of their beliefs and thoughts. We are continuing to evaluate all available legal options to vindicate Chief Cochran after his unjust termination,” said Crumly, who is allied with the group Alliance Defending Freedom that has rallied to Cochran’s defense.

Mayor Reed reacts: "He can get all of the lawyers he wants so that he can continue to have publicity and sell books, but he's going to lose the legal case. What is not disputed is he never communicated with me, the chief executive officer, prior to the publication of the book. It's clearly out of bounds." (Tipped by JMG reader Arthur)

PENNSYLVANIA: Porn Shop Loses Suit To Stop Harassment From Catholic Group

A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit from a Pennsylvania porn shop, which sought to stop a local Catholic group from protesting outside the store and harassing its customers. The suit is a rare win for Alliance Defending Freedom. Via their press release:

The corporation filed the lawsuit, Routes 202 and 309 Novelties and Gifts v. The King’s Men, with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under a hodgepodge of extraordinary claims, including racketeering, creating a private and public nuisance, and violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The King’s Men reply brief explained to the court that Adult World failed to show any evidence of its exaggerated claims. “The constitutionally protected freedom of people to express their views in public areas has been an essential part of American life since the nation’s founding,” added Senior Counsel Brett Harvey of ADF, which provided funding for defense of The King’s Men. “We are very pleased that this ministry can continue its work and advance its values without the threat of baseless litigation.”

The King's Men, which claims chapters in 14 states, have reportedly picketed the store hundreds of times since 2006 and say that their protests have forced the closure of seven Pennsylvania porn shops. Adult World claims that they sprinkled "holy water" on its grounds and buried "miracle medals" in its landscaping. King's Men is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

From Alliance Defending Freedom

Mattox is their senior counsel and therefore understands the powerful legal weight of a tweet. Feds, you done been served!

ARKANSAS: Fayetteville Votes Today On Repeal Of LGBT Rights Ordinance

Back in August, we all watched into the wee hours of the morning as the Fayetteville City Council endured ten hours of vicious and ugly public comments before approving its LGBT rights ordinance by a 6-2 vote. Anti-gay groups and local churches immediately launched a petition campaign to put the issue to public vote, which is happening today.

Last month the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce issued a unanimous endorsement of the ordinance's repeal. As it turns out, that group is headed by former Arkansas Attorney General Steve Clark, who was driven from office after being convicted of fraud. Purely by coincidence, Clark's son-in-law is one of the two Fayetteville councilmen who voted against the ordinance. Also backing the repeal, of course, is the Alliance Defending Freedom.

"Passing laws that guarantee special protections for some but punish others is a reckless avoidance of this duty," said Kellie Fiedorek, ADF litigation staff counsel, in an email interview with BP. "If this ordinance is enacted, people of all backgrounds and beliefs would be forced to accept, endorse and even promote government-dictated messages, ideas and events, even if they violate their deepest convictions. "Fayetteville is already a diverse and tolerant place: the government should not use its power to coerce any Arkansan, under threat of punishment, to surrender his or her constitutionally protected freedoms," Fiedorek said. "Coercion is not an American value."

Fiedorek, you may recall, is the lying liar who started the lie that Christians were being threatened with prison for not baking gay wedding cakes. Yesterday a local church posted the below video in which the speaker declares that Fayetteville's LGBT rights ordinance was "conceived" by accused HRC co-founder Terry Bean. Seriously. According to the clip's description, several "Terrence Bean operatives" had infiltrated the meeting. Seriously.