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Chelsea Molato
John Kubler
English 115
18 September 2013
You May Kiss the Groom
Gay rights have gained a lot of attention these past few years, especially with the help of
media where people are able to voice their opinions through social media. This is exactly what
happened with Arlenes Flower Shop when she declined her services to a same-sex couple on
basis of religious belief. The owner, Barronelle Stutzman, has been in the flower business for over
40 years and has great pride in her business. She has been providing flower service for this same
sex couple for years, but when they asked her to do the flower arrangement for their wedding, she
declined because it went against her religious belief. Since the couple and the owner have worked
together for years, she thought this would not be a problem, but to her surprise, her Facebook page
for her flower shop had become filled with opinions. The couple had stated that this flower shop
had discriminated against gay couples and this caused frenzy on the Internet. Not only is the
couple suing the Arlenes Flower Shop, but the Attorney General of Washington is also suing this
business because this business establishment is discriminating against people of the same sex.
After reviewing multiple sources, I believe that the judges should side against the owner of
Arlenes Flower Shop because this business is a public accommodation and it does not have the
right to discriminate against people of different sexual orientation. In New Mexico, there was a
similar case where a photography business, Elanes Photography, who refused to photograph a
same-sex couples wedding on basis of religious belief. The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled
against the owner. In the official court document of the case Willock v. Elanes Photography, it
states that a commercial photography business that offers its services to the public, thereby

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increasing its visibility to potential clients, is subject to the antidiscrimination provisions of the
NMHRA and must serve same-sex couples on the same basis that it serves opposite-sex couples
(Willock v. Elanes Photography 3). Through the antidiscrimination provision, it is wrong to
discriminate against same-sex couples, just like it is wrong to discriminate based on race, age, and
religion. Sexual orientation has been put into the same categories as race, age, and religion
because these people did not choose their sexual orientation and some feel that they were born
with it. Although businesses do have rights on how to go about their business, they cannot
discriminate against a certain group of people and provide their service for others.
Going back to the original case of Arlenes Flower Shop, the owner had formed a
relationship with this same-sex couple and had even provided her services to them in the past. But
when they asked her for her services for their wedding, instead of being honored, she declined.
Some might argue that the owner is exercising her right to freedom of religion, just like the
owners of Hobby Lobby, but this is case is different. Although both businesses are exercising their
right to freedom of religion, the owners of Hobby Lobby are not discriminating against a certain
group of people. Hobby Lobby refused to pay for 4 specific contraceptives for ALL of its female
employees, whereas, Stutzman refuses to service same-sex weddings. Abortion and marriage are
two heated topics in regards to religion, but abortion has a greater impact because it deals with
terminating of a child. By Hobby Lobby owners refusing to pay for abortive contraceptives, they
do not want to be seen as accomplices in an act that goes against their religion. The Hobby Lobby
owners are affecting their employees who they pay, and the owner of Arlenes Flower Shop is
denying service to potential customers.
I am Catholic, but my beliefs pertain to my life and I do not care how others go about their
lives. I grew up accepting all people as they are and I find it terrible how owners are
discriminating others based on their sexual orientation. What makes this case any different from

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when we used to discriminate based on skin color. It is an injustice to humanity to discriminate on
any basis. Even Obama has spoken out about Gay Rights and his support of it. He believes that
marriage should be between a male and a female, but as society evolves, he has learned to be
accepting of others. Gay Rights have come a long way and if the judges were to go against the gay
couple, then this would be a step backwards from the progress already made.

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Works Cited
Andrews, Annie. "Local Florist Refuses to Service Same-sex Marriage." Keprtv.com. N.p., 6 Mar. 2013.
Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keprtv.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2FFlorist-refusesto-service-same-sex-marriage-195500961.html>.
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. Supreme Court of the United States. 30 June 2014. Print.
Elane Photography, LLC v. Vanessa Willock. Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico. 22 Aug.
2013. Print.
Mears, Bill. "Obama Views on Same-sex Marriage Reflect Societal Shifts." CNN. Cable News Network,
01 Jan. 1970. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/25/politics/supreme-courtpreview-obama/>.
Roberts, Bill. "Florist Sued for Refusing to Decorate Gay Wedding Demands End to Attacks." Charisma
News. N.p., 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.