LOUISVILLE CAN’T FORCE CHRISTIAN PHOTOGRAPHER TO SHOOT SAME-SEX WEDDINGS

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LOUISVILLE CAN’T FORCE CHRISTIAN PHOTOGRAPHER TO SHOOT SAME-SEX WEDDIN…

MDHan 0 7,844 2022.09.01 00:00
2,282 https://www.christianpost.com/news/city-cant-force-christian-photograp…
Chelsey Nelson is a wedding photographer and blogger in Louisville, Kentucky. | Courtesy of Chelsey Nelson 

CP U.S. | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2022


Louisville can’t force Christian photographer to shoot same-sex weddings, federal court rules

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor 

Kentucky's largest city cannot punish a professional Christian photographer for refusing on religious grounds to photograph same-sex wedding ceremonies, a federal court has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton of the Western District of Kentucky ruled Tuesday that Louisville could not enforce its LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance against photographer Chelsey Nelson, who is "motivated by her faith to celebrate marriage as the union of only opposite-sex couples."           

Beaton, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, granted a summary injunction and argued the city's ordinance preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation violated Nelson's freedom of speech rights.

He stated that while the city "may require restaurants and hotels and stores to provide services regardless of the proprietors' views or their customers' legal status, the government may not force singers or writers or photographers to articulate messages they don't support."

"The freedom of speech — especially for minority views — is a core premise of our democratic republic," ruled Beaton. "As prevailing sentiments and politics have changed over the years, robust constitutional protection for differing views has remained fixed.

"The judge concluded that the First Amendment is "necessary to protect the discourse of same-sex couples and their supporters."

"Because the U.S. Constitution supersedes Louisville's Fairness Ordinance as a matter of law, this Court enjoins the City from either compelling or suppressing Nelson's photography and writing," he continued.

Jonathan Scruggs of Alliance Defending Freedom, who argued Nelson's case on Aug. 7, said in a statement Wednesday he believes "photographers and writers like Chelsey should be free to peacefully live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust punishment by the government."

"The court was right to halt enforcement of Louisville's law against Chelsey while her case moves forward. She serves everyone," said Scruggs.

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