Dear John,

This summer, we have been alerting you to cases of government discrimination against everyday Americans solely due to their belief in one man and one woman marriage. By now, you probably recognize names such as Jack Phillips (the Colorado cake baker), Barronelle Stutzman (the Washington state florist), and Jacob Kersey (the former Georgia police officer). However, you might not have heard of Steve Tennes, owner of Country Mill Farms of Michigan. His story is yet another example of government discrimination against Americans simply for their beliefs about marriage.

Fortunately, appropriations legislation has been put forth in the House that would protect individuals like these from government discrimination.

Click here to send a message to your U.S. senators and representative, asking them to support these House appropriations bills!

In 2016, Tennes posted on Facebook saying that he adheres to the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage as being between a man and a woman and so declines to host same-sex weddings on his family's farm. The City of East Lansing then denied Country Mill Farms' request to participate in their seasonal farmer's market for 2017, despite the city inviting the farm as an "invitational vendor" from 2011 to 2016 due to Country Mill's exceptional produce and service. The city of East Lansing even adjusted farmer's market guidelines to add an "anti-discrimination" clause that effectively barred only the Tennes from participating.

Thankfully, after a six-year legal battle, Tennes finally won his lawsuit in August of this year. The judge recognized that "The city's decision to exclude Country Mill Farms from the 2017 East Lansing Farmer's Market constituted a burden on plaintiffs' religious beliefs. Plaintiffs were forced to choose between following their religious beliefs and a government benefit for which they were otherwise qualified."

Although it is encouraging that Tennes won his lawsuit, he never should have had to file it in the first place. Americans should not have to fight to protect their basic rights.

As we've mentioned before, this year's House appropriations bills contain language protecting Americans from government discrimination for their marriage beliefs. This would set the tone at the national level that the United States has a government that protects citizen's religious beliefs and moral convictions, not punishes them.

Send a message to your elected officials in Washington, D.C., asking them to support this legislation to protect Americans' marriage beliefs!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at FRC Action

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