Should the government be able to coerce a family farm
into hosting a same-sex wedding? In a free society, the answer is no. Family farms should be
free to operate in accordance with the beliefs and values of their owners.
Government shouldn’t be able to fine citizens for acting in the market
according to their own—rather than the government’s—values, unless there is a
compelling government interest being pursued in the least restrictive way
possible. But the New York State Division of Human Rights
doesn’t see things this way. On August 8, it fined Cynthia and Robert Gifford $13,000
for acting on their belief that marriage is the union of a man and woman
and thus declining to rent out their family farm for a same-sex wedding
celebration. The Human Rights Commission ruled that “the nature and
circumstances of the [Giffords’s] violation of the Human Rights Law also
warrants a penalty.”….. The Giffords must pay a $1,500 mental
anguish fine to each of the women and pay $10,000 in
civil damages penalty to New York State. If they can’t pay in
60 days, a nine percent interest rate will be added to that total. Like Jack
Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, the Giffords must also institute
anti-discrimination re-education
classes and procedures for their staff…..To Read More…..
My Take - Does any of this sound hauntingly familiar to what Mao Tse Tung did in Communist China? We do know who Mao was don't we?
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