Hice, Hartzler, Blackburn Lead Amicus Brief Supporting Arlene's Flowers

Statement

Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10) joins with Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4)and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in leading an amicus brief filed before the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene's Flowers.

The brief supports Stutzman's affirmation that the decision handed down by the Washington Supreme court in State of Washington v. Arlene's Flowers and Ingersoll v. Arlene's Flowers violates Stutzman's First Amendment rights. The brief additionally argues that the First Amendment protects Stutzman's beliefs in the sanctity of marriage and her ability to create art reflective of her convictions and conscience. The Hartzler brief asks the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Barronelle's case.

The case was brought to the Washington Supreme Court after Stutzman referred a friend and regular customer to another florist because she couldn't create the floral arrangements to celebrate his same-sex wedding. Doing so would be in contradiction to Stutzman's deeply-help religious beliefs. Washington's Attorney General and the American Civil Liberties Union both filed lawsuits against Stutzman, with the state's Supreme Court ruling in their favor.

"Once again, people of faith are being demonized and targeted for their convictions," Hice said. "It is truly unconscionable that anyone would be forced to act against their own deeply-held beliefs - whether in a personal or professional capacity. I commend Congresswoman Hartzler for her continued leadership on this issue, and I'm proud to join her in protecting our Constitutional right to live by the tenets of our faith."

"The government is overstepping its constitutional bounds by forcing Stutzman into an unfair, dichotomous choice -- either act in contradiction to your faith or be banished from the marketplace. It is not illegal for individuals to peacefully live out his or her faith and to shape business practices accordingly. The Washington Supreme Court's decision is a direct violation of Stutzman's First Amendment rights," Hartzler said.

"Current events such as the protests in Hong Kong and the ongoing conflict in Syria remind us daily that we are fortunate to live in a country devoted to protecting individual liberties," Blackburn said. "Academics, authors, and creative artists like the florist Barronnelle Stutzman cannot be compelled by the state to express or create art that is inconsistent with their religious beliefs. We are asking the Supreme Court to hear Ms. Stutzman's case so the justices will have an opportunity to affirm the Constitution's strong and enduring safeguards on religious liberty for all Americans."

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