By Jessica Boehm | The Republic
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has quashed a local wedding shop’s attempt to override a Phoenix ordinance that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination.
Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio and self-described evangelical Christians, create invitations and other handmade artwork for weddings and events.
They filed a lawsuit against Phoenix in May 2016 challenging the part of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Their suit alleges the city’s ordinance would compel them to create invitations or artwork for same-sex couples, which would conflict with their religious belief that marriage is between one man and one woman andviolate their freedoms of speech and religion.
No gay couple has requested the studio’s services and no one has filed a complaint against the artists with the city.
This week, Judge Karen Mullins delivered a second legal blow to Duka and Koski, rejecting all of their arguments and confirming that the Phoenix ordinance does not violate Arizona’s free speech and free exercise of religion laws.
