By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Ahwatukee Foothills News
The state Court of Appeals has rejected arguments by a Phoenix business that a city ordinance that bars them from refusing to design wedding invitations for same-sex couples violates their constitutional and religious rights.
Related:Attorney: Students seeking refunds over Dreamers’ tuition rates have no right to sue
Citizens sound off in favor of merit selection of judges
In a unanimous ruling last week, the judges acknowledged that Breanna Koski and Joanna Duke, owners of Brush & Nib Studio, are “devout Christians’’ who believe that the only legitimate marriage is between one man and one woman.
As a result, they do not want to be forced to prepare wedding invitations for same-sex couples, arguing that doing so would force them to espouse beliefs that are contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs. And they wanted the ability to post a sign to that effect.
But appellate Judge Lawrence Winthrop, writing for the court, rebuffed their claim that this was about free speech. Instead, he said, this is simply about conduct.
