Will you rally around Barronelle once again?
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Will you rally around Barronelle once again?
Dear John,
It’s pretty rare to be involved in a case at the U.S. Supreme Court. But it’s even rarer for your case to be considered at the High Court twice – all in the span of a few years.
That’s exactly the situation Washington floral artist Barronelle Stutzman finds herself in.
And there’s a lot on the line.
If the Supreme Court declines to hear Barronelle’s case, allowing a Washington Supreme Court ruling against her to stand, she could lose her business and her life savings.
Barronelle won’t back down. But she needs your help.
It’s time to rally around Barronelle as she appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court once again! Will you help fight the injustice against Barronelle and others like her with your gift today?
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DONATE NOW
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Targeted for her faith
Rob Ingersoll was one of Barronelle’s favorite customers. He had been coming to her business, Arlene’s Flowers, for nearly ten years.
One day, an employee told Barronelle that Rob had been at the shop looking for her. He wanted her to design the floral arrangements for his same-sex wedding. After some prayer and reflection, Barronelle decided that because of her Christian beliefs about marriage, she could not create custom art to celebrate that particular event.
While she gladly serves all people, Barronelle cannot express every message or celebrate every event through her floral art.
When Rob returned to the store, she took his hand in hers and explained how much she cares about him. Barronelle told him that she couldn’t create floral arrangements for his wedding because of her religious beliefs. Then, she referred him to three other florists that she knew would do a good job. Rob said he understood, and the two hugged before he left.
This should have been the end of the story.
But when the Washington attorney general heard about this situation through a social media post, he decided to file a lawsuit against Barronelle. And then, the ACLU joined in. It also sued her.
Now, Barronelle is at risk of losing everything she owns.
Imagine being in Barronelle’s shoes, John. What if the government targeted you and you faced a lawsuit that threatened to take everything you own because of your religious beliefs?
This is Barronelle’s reality. And it’s all because she stood for her faith. But she shouldn’t have to stand alone.
Please stand with Barronelle—and people of faith like her—with your gift today!
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A case of government hostility
From the beginning, the State of Washington has been relentless.
The state attorney general sued Barronelle in both her professional and personal capacity even though no formal complaint had been filed against her. But when another business in Washington—a coffee shop in Seattle—obscenely berated and discriminated against Christian customers, the state attorney general did nothing!
The Washington state courts have had several opportunities to protect Barronelle’s constitutional freedom to live and work consistently with her faith.
But they failed to do so each time.
The Washington Supreme Court even had a second chance to give Barronelle justice after the U.S. Supreme Court sent her case back for reconsideration in light of its decision in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled 7 to 2 in favor of Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips, making it clear that the government cannot treat people of faith with hostility.
Similar hostility is present in Barronelle’s case. Still, the Washington Supreme Court failed to acknowledge this.
It ruled against her a second time.
The government has had several opportunities to make this right. But it keeps ruling the wrong way.
Now, Barronelle will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider her case once again.
Will you help defend against this government hostility with your gift today?
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You can make a difference – rise to the challenge today!
Barronelle holds a belief that millions of people of faith across the world share – that marriage is a union of one man and one woman.
It’s probably a belief that you share, John.
Even the U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged that this belief is “decent and honorable.”
But that’s not how the State of Washington sees it.
State officials are doing everything they can to promote their favored viewpoint of marriage and punish those who don’t fall in line. The State of Washington is using Barronelle to send a message to us all: Ignore your beliefs or face the consequences.
But as you know, your faith must be lived out. And your beliefs affect everything you do.
It’s no different for Barronelle. Though she loves Rob and would be happy to serve him for another decade, she cannot agree to celebrate an event that violates her faith. And she shouldn’t have to choose between her faith and her livelihood – none of us should.
The Washington Supreme Court doesn’t have the final word. But we need your help.
Barronelle has another chance at freedom, and she urgently needs your support. A generous family has given a $2 million challenge grant to defend religious freedom for Barronelle and people like her. Please rise to the challenge and rally around Barronelle as she appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court a second time.
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It’s not just her religious freedom at stake – it’s yours too. And if it can happen to a sweet grandmother like Barronelle, it can happen to any of us. It can even happen to you.
Thank you for supporting Barronelle as she goes before the U.S. Supreme Court once again.
DONATE NOW
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