Florist who lost 'right to discriminate' Supreme Court appeal says she'll be financially ruined

Chicago, IL - The attorney for Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Wash. says the Supreme Court refusal to take the case against the State of Washington means that the Evergreen State is allowed to now discriminate against her and lead to her financial ruin. Kristen Waggoner of Alliance Defending Freedom explained on FOX News that the highest court in the U.S. in effect is allowing Barronelle Stutzman to be abused by people who don't believe in her religious convictions.

A federal appeals court decided that in Arlene's Flowers v. Washington, Stutzman had no right to pick and choose which customers she could provide services to, especially persons who are considered by state law, a protected class.

Stutzman had refused to provide floral arrangements, an item she sells to the general public, to same-sex couple Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed.

Trump-appointed justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joined Chief Justice John Roberts and the liberal justices to refuse the appeal. Court conservatives Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas said they would have taken the case.

Alphonso David, executive director of Human Rights Campaign, says this case is further proof of the need to have federal protections for lesbain, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. The Equality Act, currently stalled in the U.S. Senate, would do that by adding LGBTQ persons to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"We need to double down on our efforts to pass the Equality Act. The Court has validated nondiscrimination protections, now Congress must follow suit," David said.