-Christian Venue’s Creative Response to Forced Hosting of Same-Sex Weddings

A wedding venue in New York, Liberty Ridge Farm, lost a 3 1/2 year legal battle after they declined to host a same-sex wedding. The Christian owners, who support traditional marriage, have found a creative way to discourage potential same-sex customers. They make it very clear that part of their fees and profits will be going to organizations that support traditional marriage. From Faithwire:

Displayed at the bottom of each page in the “Weddings” section of its website is a clearly marked disclaimer that reads:

     “At Liberty Ridge Farm, our deeply held religious belief is that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and the Farm is operated with the purpose of strengthening and promoting marriage. In furtherance of this purpose and to honor and promote our moral and religious beliefs, we donate a portion of our business proceeds to organizations that promote strong marriages such as the Family Research Council.

The patronage of all potential clients for all services offered is welcome regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability or marital status. All couples legally permitted to marry in the state of New York are welcome to hold their wedding at Liberty Ridge Farm. We serve everyone equally.”

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Response: One would hope that religious liberty as defined in the First Amendment of the Constitution would be enough to support the religious convictions of Christian business owners. But that no longer seems to be the case in America, especially since the Supreme Court has made same-sex marriage legal. There are some cases still proceeding through the different gauntlets of our legal system so hope is not completely lost yet.

Nevertheless Christian business owners, like those at Liberty Ridge Farm, are left with very few options after they have lost a lawsuit. None of which are all that satisfactory: 1.Continue the legal battle, which could continue for years and result in huge legal costs with a possible unsatisfactory ending after all and in the process ruin the business anyway. 2. Sell or close the business. 3. Cave-in and go against their religious convictions.

Some might say they they have chosen #3 but that would not be fair to the legal position that they have found themselves in nor the creative way that they have responded to it. Even though they have opened up their venue to all comers, the Christian couple who owns Liberty Ridge Farm clearly make their religious beliefs known to all potential customers and have also made it very clear that part of their fees would be going toward organizations supporting traditional marriage.

The article doesn’t say whether this has eliminated all same-sex marriage customers. But it is my sense that most folks would not want to give business to some place where they are really not wanted, especially if some of their money would be going to organizations which might be working against their own interests and views. What do you think?                *Top