Judge: WA florist who refused gay wedding broke law (beliefs protected, actions not necessarily)

[uppityperson]

Excellent, bolding is mine but the important part.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025728983_judgewashingtonfloristwhorefusedgayweddingbrokelaw1888xml.html

A florist who refused to provide flowers to a gay couple for their wedding violated state consumer-protection and anti-discrimination law, a judge ruled 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 freedoms of speech and religion. While religious beliefs are protected by the First Amendment, actions based on those beliefs aren’t necessarily protected, he said.

“For over 135 years, the Supreme Court has held that laws may prohibit religiously motivated action, as opposed to belief,” Ekstrom wrote. “The Courts have confirmed the power of the Legislative Branch to prohibit conduct it deems discriminatory, even where the motivation for that conduct is grounded in religious belief.”
(clip)

"The law is clear: If you choose to provide a service to couples of the opposite sex, you must provide the same service to same-sex couples,” Ferguson said....

[pinto]

1. I love the bolded comment from Judge Ekstrom. Clear, to the point, unequivocal.