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Alexis Perez
John Kubler
English 115
17 September 2014
Religion vs. Same-Sex Couples
Different cases have surfaced all around the United States that have brought many
opinions and arguments upon groups of people. A particular case that has stunned many around
the U.S. is the lawsuit against "Arlene's Flower Shop" and owner Barronelle Stutzman. This
lawsuit is about the owner Stutzman who owns "Arlene's Flower Shop" in Richland,
Washington, who denied service to a same-sex couple. Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed, who
wanted the flower shop to work for their wedding, was rejected due to the owner Stutzman's
religious belief. The lawsuit was not initially put into effect by the couple, but by Attorney
General Bob Ferguson. The state attorney argues that the rights of the same-sex couple have
been taunted with and that there should be justice against the flower shop and it's owner
Stutzman.
As the lawsuit is still going on today, many have already chosen sides as to which they
prefer to participate in. If I was part of the group who will judge whether or not justice should be
served to the owner Stutzman, I would side with owner. The reason I would side with the
Stutzman is because the way the incident was handled wasn't to offend the couple, but was done
with as much carefulness as possible. An article called "Local florist refuses to service same-sex
marriage" states that she knew Ingersoll for years and she explained to him why she couldn't

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provide flowers for his wedding. She states "we hugged each other and he left, and I assumed
that was the end of the story", and in my eyes that shows that she did it with as much respect as
possible (Andrews, 1). I do understand that the rights of the couple's have been affected, but at
the same time, she isn't the only flower shop in the Washington area. As Kristen Waggoner states
in the Alliance Defending Freedom video "there's like three pages in the Yellow pages of florists
that could have served this couple" which means that there is still a variety of other shops who
could have given them service (The Barronelle Stutzman Story 5:05).
The couple along with the State Attorney Bob Ferguson, not only wanted to attack the
shop but Stutzman as well. In an article by Charisma News "According to the motion,
Washington law does not allow someone to attack a business officer personally rather than just
sue the business..." which in return gives Stutzman another positive in her side of the case
(Roberts, 1). She only wants to exercise her religious freedom and in no way did she attempt to
hurt the couple. Stutzman also took into consideration that she might lose costumers but as other
people believe she is only abiding along her faith as anybody else would.
As the Hobby Lobby case of the Hahn and Green family who opposed the right to give
four abortive contraceptives to their women employees because it was against their religious
freedom, the same situation has ensued here. As stated in the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court
Decision, this flower shop case is being challenged to see if the actions of the same-sex couple
and attorney have "violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment" (Supreme Court,
10). In the Hobby Lobby case the judges sided with the owners who only wanted to exercise
religious freedom, as Stutzman is pursuing as well. The rights are not taken away from Ingersoll
or Freed, and they do have other choices besides "Arlene's Flower Shop".

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Although it may have truly been taken to heart, Barronelle Stutzman never wanted to
make their life difficult. As stated in the article by KEPRTV, "she does want to take away the
hurt its caused the couple", which shows she does care for the couple but the proposal to
provide flowers for their wedding was too much for her religious faith (Andrews, 1). She also
states "I do feel bad this has caused so much turmoil and anger" which considerably could be
understood because she was good friends with Robert Ingersoll, but just could not put her faith
behind her (Andrews, 1). Her belief in religious freedom for herself and her company are at
stake, and they shouldn't be because she truly has the right to religious freedom although it may
hurt the couple. Religious freedom is being taunted with, and should be fought for, to be able to
believe in and be justified to do so.

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Works Cited
Andrews, Annie. "Local Florist Refuses to Service Same-sex Marriage."KEPR 19. N.p., 6 Mar.
2013. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
Opinion), (Slip. "Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc." SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED
STATES (2014): 1-95. Web.
Roberts, Bill. "Florist Sued for Refusing to Decorate Gay Wedding Demands End to
Attacks." Charisma News. N.p., 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
"The Barronelle Stutzman Story." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.