Washington gay wedding flowers case goes to court
(Photo: thinkprogress.org)
PROSSER, Wash. - The case of a Benton county florist, who refused to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding, goes to court Friday. In April, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a discrimination lawsuit against Baronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers, the Yakima Herald Republic reported. Stutzman reportedly told her longtime customer, Robert Ingersoll that she couldn't provide flowers for Ingersoll's September wedding, because of her relationship with Jesus Christ, the paper reported.
J.D. Bristol, Stutzman's attorney, is asking Benton County Superior Court Judge Salvador Mendoza to recuse himself from the case, the newspaper reported. Bristol said that Judge Mendoza served as a college trustee alongside on the of gay men. Three of Benton County Superior Court's six judges have recused themselves from the case, the Yakima Herald Republic reported.
The ACLU of Washington also field a private lawsuit against the florist on the men's behalf.