Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman and her lawyers aren't being truthful about her case

Barronelle Stutzman

The argument about religious liberty vs. LGBTQ equality took another turn on Thursday.

From The New Civil Rights Movement:

The Washington State Supreme Court has just handed down a unanimous ruling against Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene's flowers, who refused to make arrangements for a longtime customer because he was marrying a man. 

The ruling upholds a lower court's decision that found Stutzman's case was not decided with animus toward her religious beliefs – an argument that did win in the case Colorado Christian baker Jack Phillips at the U.S. Supreme Court. There is no suggestion the two cases are similar. 

KOMO and the AP report the State Supreme Court Thursday ruling means that "Stutzman's refusal to provide flowers to the same-sex couple constituted discrimination against sexual orientation."

According to a press release issued Thursday from the Office of Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson - In 2013, Stutzman refused to sell flowers to a customer for his upcoming wedding to another man. She was sent a letter on March 28 that same year asking that she comply with Washington state law which prohibits discrimination by business of sexual orientation.  She refused. A lawsuit was filed by the office of the attorney general in April of that year. That lawsuit was later consolidated with the lawsuit filed by the couple Stutzman refused to sell flowers to.  In February 2015, Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom ruled against her. Stutzman appealed to the Washington Supreme Court and lost that case in 2017. In 2018, due to the Masterpiece ruling (in which the court ruled in favor of the baker because it felt that there was hostility shown against his religious beliefs), the Supreme Court vacated this ruling and sent it back to the the Washington Supreme Court for a second look.

Throughout the entire situation, Stutzman's lawyers at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a right-wing group which specializes in cases which could undermine LGBTQ equality,  and other religious right groups made her their poster child in their fight against LGBTQ equality. She has been consistently portrayed as an innocent Christian grandmother who stood to lose her business, livelihood, and savings because a supposed aggressive gay agenda.

The following tweet was sent out by then Alliance Defending Freedom spokesperson Kerri Kupec (who is now the spokesperson of the United States Justice Department) in 2016:

The Family Research Council said the following about Ms. Stutzman in 2018:

The Washington grandmother, who is being personally and professionally sued by the state, could lose everything in a suit brought by two men who accused her of "discrimination" when she turned down their custom wedding order.

In an article posted by right-wing One News Now on Thursday, Stutzman continued to push this angle:

"While I know this isn't the last word on the case, it pains me to see my own state continue to come after my flower shop, my home, and every penny I own – especially after the U.S. Supreme Court specifically instructed the state court to look at my case more seriously," Stutzman, 74, said in a media call today. "I risk losing everything just because I chose not to participate in a same-sex wedding of a long-time friend and customer."

But Stutzman's claims about being in danger of losing her flower shop, home, and every penny she owns simply isn't true. The following tweet from Washington State Attorney Ferguson, who defended the state's case against Stutzman, called out false statements made by her and her attorneys:

AG Ferguson statement on misleading claims about the financial impact of Arlene's Flowers case. More on today's ruling here: https://t.co/09r6WZwIdn pic.twitter.com/iBOBin870v

— WA Attorney General (@AGOWA) June 6, 2019

Some may say that the exaggeration pushed by Ms. Stutzman and her attorneys is a minor detail in the huge argument about religious liberty vs. LGBTQ equality and it's not worth bothering about. I disagree.  This, in fact, is a crucial detail because it invoked the connotation that the LGBTQ community was hellbent on destroying a grandmother's business and leaving her bankrupt and destitute simply because of her Christian beliefs. And this is the crux of the "religious liberty" argument pushed by  Stutzman, ADF, and those on the right - i.e. that the LGBTQ community is so strident in forcing people to accept us that we will destroy anyone who gets in our path to that acceptance. And if by doing this, we wreck Christianity, then that's double success for us.

The argument deliberately and falsely frames the LGBTQ community as wanton aggressors instead of who we actually are - people who simply want fairness for ourselves, our families, and our children.

Stutzman and her attorneys say that supposedly participating in a gay wedding - via allowing her flowers to be used - would have violated her personal and deeply held religious beliefs. It's a shame that they clearly didn't feel the same way about lying.

'Bill in Congress would ban gay, trans 'panic' defenses' & other Thur midday news briefs

Bill in Congress Would Ban Gay, Trans 'Panic' Defenses - Would be nice if it could pass.

YouTube Walks Back Defense Of Commentator Accused Of Homophobic Harassment [UPDATED] - A slow moving but necessary fight is happening right now.

An HIV+ man was refused service at a barbershop. He just won $75,000 in damages. - Good. Get up off the money. 

See EW's LGBTQ issue cover stars in a special photo shoot honoring 50th anniversary of Stonewall - Okay . . .

Trump's lie about ban on transgender troops showcases his basic incompetence

So that thing which was elected as head of this country in 2016 was in England this week for a visit with the royal family. In between lying about protesters and making an idiot of himself via a ridiculous twitter feud with Bette Midler, the thing - I mean - Donald Trump took special time out to lie about his ban of transgender men and women from serving in the military.

From Think Progress:

 President Donald Trump defended his decision to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military during an an interview with Piers Morgan Tuesday evening, using false claims that contradict what his administration has argued in court. 

The interview came during Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom, one of 19 countries around the world that allow transgender people to serve openly in their armed forces. 

“They take massive amounts of drugs,” Trump said, when asked to square his declared support for the LGBTQ community with his stance on transgender service members. “They have to … You would actually have to break rules and regulations in order to have that.”

ThinkProgress goes on to say Trump's statement was quickly refuted by Morgan. Trump doubled down and then began claiming that transgender military men and women take a large amount of drugs. But according to ThinkProgress:

The RAND Corporation study that prompted President Barack Obama to lift the ban in 2016 estimated that transgender health costs would reach approximately $8.4 million at most, a fraction of the military’s health care expenditures. A report from earlier this year also found that the military had only spent $8 million total since the ban was first lifted, treating more than 1,500 troops. In total, the military spends about $50 billion on health care every year.

Steve Benen of MSNBC also called out Trump's pitiful defense of his ban.

There are a couple of dramatic flaws in Trump’s underwhelming defense, starting with the fact that he’s contradicting his own team’s talking points. The administration’s argument up until now has been that the ban on transgender Americans serving in the military is needed to protect unit cohesion and morale among the other troops. Now the argument apparently has something to do with medications. 

Which leads us to the other problem: Trump’s wrong about this, too.  

The Washington Post spoke to a series of experts who concluded that the president doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about. 

“This statement is incorrect,” said Jane Schacter, an expert on gender and sexuality law at Stanford University. “Many members of the military use prescription medication, and it is made available to them worldwide. Hormone therapy, in particular, is prescribed, including to manage the gynecological needs of non-transgender service members.” 

Joshua Safer, the head of the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, agreed. “The hormones taken by transgender individuals are not prohibited by the military,” he said. “Medication for transgender people in the military would be — and is currently, for those transgender individuals already serving in the military — handled similarly to other prescribed medication where an emergency interruption is not life threatening.” […] 

It’s also important to note that not all transgender people undergo gender reassignment surgery or take prescription hormones, so even if such prescribed drugs were prohibited, it wouldn’t necessarily mean transgender troops would have to be banned from serving. Trump’s comments seem to suggest that these drugs would be required for all transgender troops; they’re not.

This episode highlights the one thing so many of us find annoying about Agent Orange, I mean Donald Trump. He can't even lie on a competent level.

'Boston issues permit for ridiculous 'Straight Pride' parade' & other Wed midday news briefs

See first news item.

Boston has issued a permit for a ‘Straight Pride’ parade in August - It's gonna suck.

Editorial: My Stonewall Is Black - Preach! 

Gov. Whitmer, Michigan lawmakers announce legislation to protect LGBTQ rights - Elections and voting matter. 

Mayor who posted about 'killing out' gays has posted apology - He claims to have been taken out of context . . .

A news anchor came out on air & announced her engagement. Now her fans love her even more.- Kick ass!

Y'all, the straight folks are jealous about LGBTQ Pride (again)

With LGBTQ Pride Month comes the usual nonsense from some heterosexuals whining about why LGBTQ Pride isn't necessary or why there needs to be a "Straight Pride." This year is no different because some fool has planned a Straight Pride in Boston. Of course it's worth mentioning that, according to Bilerico, the organizer is connected with an anti-Semitic, white supremacist group.

Figures.

However, instead of making a droll joke (such as saying how straight pride parades will be dull because the floats will be flaccid and collapse within two minutes) or an astute observation (about how people wanting a straight pride parade is like a person with a big bag of money getting jealous at his neighbor for having a $20), I will feature this video below via my friend Matt Baume. Of course it probably won't change any minds of those who resent LGBTQ Pride, but who cares what they think. A reminder about how far the LGBTQ community and we have accomplished is always a good thing.

''Christian' Right's 'Project Blitz' spells trouble for America' & other Tue midday news briefs

Here’s a Fantastic Primer on the Christian Right’s “Project Blitz” - And you know this means nothing good for the LGBTQ community.

Jazz Jennings came out as trans at age 5. Now she’s helping The Trevor Project support other kids. - Good for her! She faces a lot of nonsense and should be commended.

Rep. Pressley seeks answers from HUD on anti-trans rule for homeless shelters - This is why elections matter. 

Catholic bishop doubles down after his startlingly homophobic tweet goes viral - Go ahead. Be stupid and double down. We got you.

Hate group can't stand how Target is promoting visibility of LGBTQ youth and families

Hate group American Family Association pulls out antiquated phraseology about gays "recruiting" children.

Hate group the American Family Association and its joke of a subsidiary, One Million Moms, is upset at Target and the LGBTQ community . . . again:

"OneMillionMoms is concerned with Target once again because now they are donating $100,000 to the LGBT nonprofit GLSEN to help promote 'inclusiveness' for kindergarteners through 12th-graders," she informs.

The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) claims to have been "championing" LGBTQ issues in America's public schools for almost three decades.

Cole tells OneNewNow it is shameful that Target is promoting the homosexual lifestyle to school children.

AFA itself sent out an email with the graphic above and information like such:

Target's website has several pages dedicated to products that promote the LGBT lifestyle, many of which are specifically designed for children. For example, Target offers shirts that declare, "Love my dads," and another says, "Love my moms." Others shirts are emblazoned with the rainbow flag bearing the word "pride" superimposed.

How dare Target sell items geared to same-sex families!  Next thing you know, these families will actually be shopping out in the open! And that is a problem because we all know that LGBTQ people don't have families. We survive in the closets and shadows looking for our next sexual fix.

Or something like that . . .

The only reason why I don't completely laugh at this madness is because it does resonate with some people's ignorance. Phrases like "gay agenda" and "promoting homosexual lifestyles to children" tend to set them off in  Pavlovian type tremors.

But I am comforted by the fact that for the most part,  the joke is on One Million Moms and AFA. With more LGBTQ youth coming out (which is wonderful) and more same-sex families becoming visible (as they should), what's being "promoted" here is not an agenda, but plain reality.

And no amount of antiquated language or fear tactics will put this wonderful genie back into its bottle.  Furthermore, GLSEN does wonderful work for our kids and should be commended. And if Target wants to help with that work, it should also be commended.