Alabama joins coalition of states defending religious liberty case

On Friday, Attorney General Luther Strange announced that Alabama would join a 13 states in support of upholding religious liberty.

The coalition is standing behind 71 year-old Barronelle Stutzman, a Washington State florist who was targeted by the ACLU after turning down a request to provide flower arrangements for the wedding of a gay customer. In addition to having her business sued, she was also sued personally. Furthermore, Stutzman was given an ultimatum: provide services for all wedding ceremonies or none at all. Until her case is decided by the Supreme Court, she has agreed to refuse any wedding-related business.

In an August interview with the Christian Science Monitor, Stutzman told the publication that she feels punished for staying true to her faith. In a statement, Alabama’s Attorney General seemed to agree.

“Mrs. Stutzman is being targeted by the government simply for exercising her constitutionally protected rights of free speech and freedom of religion,” said Attorney General Strange. “Mrs. Stutzman expressed her religious beliefs as the reason for declining to prepare a flower arrangement for a same-sex wedding. The wedding couple was directed to other florists who could have performed the same services but they chose to sue Mrs. Stutzman simply for expressing her religious convictions.”

“Religious persons who own businesses, like Mrs. Stutzman, are free to exercise their rights as affirmed by the Supreme Court’s 2014 Hobby Lobby decision,” he went on to say. “This Washington State case is important for the impact it could have on similar cases throughout the country challenging religious liberty. I was pleased to join with the 12 other states in standing up for Americans’ right to express their religious views in their homes and in their businesses.”

Other states who have joined in the suit include Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.