My Daughter Isn't Good Enough? Think Again, Wildflower Inn.
The ACLU and the ACLU of Vermont filed a lawsuit today against the Wildflower Inn, a Vermont resort that refused to host a lesbian couple’s wedding reception due to the owners’ personal bias against lesbian and gay people. Channie Peters, the mother of one of our clients, Ming Linsley (right), writes about why she's part of the lawsuit.
Like most mothers, I was filled with a flood of emotions when my daughter Ming told me that she had just become engaged to someone we love and believe is the perfect life partner for her. My husband and I were thrilled, delighted, excited and brimming with love for our daughter and her partner Kate. So of course, when asked, I undertook the job of planning their wedding reception with joy and enthusiasm. I contacted the Vermont Convention Bureau for help in finding a venue for the reception, and soon received an email and brochure from the Wildflower Inn describing their wonderful facilities and encouraging me to hold the reception there.
Imagine my shock when I called the Wildflower Inn and they told me that they have a policy of not hosting “gay receptions.” How could this be? I was incredulous, then disappointed and hurt. Someone who didn’t even know us was telling me that my lovely daughter wasn’t good enough to have her reception at their facility while everyone else who sees the resort’s website is welcome.
When I realized that Vermont is one of 21 states that includes sexual orientation as a protected class in its anti-discrimination laws, I felt — and feel — strongly that this case is not about my daughter’s wedding. This is about a public place breaking the law. If I go into a store and shoplift, I will be arrested. The Wildflower Inn’s owners have broken the law. It would fly in the face of this country’s commitment to the rule of law for Vermont’s anti-discrimination law not to be enforced in this case, and for these business owners not to be held to the same legal standard as every other person, If discrimination is permitted in some instances, it can happen in any instance, to anyone. Then no American can trust that there will be liberty and justice for all.
Fortunately, I soon found a perfectly beautiful venue for their reception, a place that welcomes my daughter and her fiancée. And fortunately, I also learned that the Wildflower Inn is in the distinct minority in its discriminatory policy. But that doesn’t excuse the Wildflower Inn’s discrimination or make their conduct any less hurtful and humiliating. I hope that by filing their lawsuit Ming and Kate will be able to make sure that other couples will be treated equally by public businesses regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
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Jul 19th, 2011 at 1:21pm
Besides having an ACLU case, there is the option for campaigning publicly to get people NOT to go to the resort ever. If they face the possibility of going out of business due to their practices, they'll either change their practices or go broke.
Jul 19th, 2011 at 2:04pm
Have it at the Inn at Essex- they proudly have a rainbow flag sticker on the front door!
Jul 19th, 2011 at 5:50pm
My neice Kate and her partner Ming deserve nothing less than equal treatment under the law. I fully supprt their efforts to make the Wldflowere Inn obey the law.
Jul 19th, 2011 at 6:22pm
So you want to throw a couple in jail for following their conscience and deeply-held convictions? Is this the Soviet Union!?
Jul 20th, 2011 at 12:00pm
Shame on them. There's no place for such bigotry.
Jul 20th, 2011 at 7:42pm
The ACLU purports to defend freedom, except the freedom of the wildflower inn to choose its clients. The ACLU should be fighting for the freedom of the Wildflower Inn to choose who it wants to serve, not trying to use unjust laws to crush a small business owner for their beliefs.
Jul 21st, 2011 at 2:43pm
Your daughter and her fiancee are a beautiful couple and I wish your new family a life filled with happiness and joy as your celebrate this special time.
Jul 21st, 2011 at 3:44pm
I've gone to the Wildflower Inn many times in the past. Never again. Good for you for filing the lawsuit and shame on them.
Jul 22nd, 2011 at 10:50am
Unless the Wildflower resort is government run, they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
Jul 23rd, 2011 at 8:56am
Good for the inn! Morality over law, if not, remove God Bless America!
Jul 23rd, 2011 at 9:27am
You go Wildflower Inn!
Stick up for your beliefs.
Jul 24th, 2011 at 5:58am
i have supported gay marrige for years and i will continue to, but dont business's have the right to refuse service.
Jul 24th, 2011 at 11:39pm
My family and I stayed there many years ago, and loved it. I'm so sad to hear that they are now discriminating against two people who deserve to celebrate their union. If you check their website now, it says they are "no longer hosting wedding celebrations and other special events." Hmmmm.
Jul 25th, 2011 at 12:37pm
BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Jul 25th, 2011 at 6:14pm
I find this to be hilarious. Here we have one group trying to defend the civil liberties of one group and completely ignoring the civil liberties of another. It is the owners civil liberty to honor their religion and not allow this gay "marriage" to occur on their property.
Jul 26th, 2011 at 8:19pm
If this restaurant does not want to book this event, good. Let them look elsewhere. Good for them. They have the right to deny service to anyone.
Jul 26th, 2011 at 8:22pm
You are going to "approve" my free speech. How interesting for the ACLU to be monitoring free speech....what a total hoot!!!!!!
Jul 28th, 2011 at 1:30pm
The only negative I see in this is that the offending business is getting LOTS of publicity...good or bad exposure for a business is still a positive. The venue that DID hold their reception isn't mentioned at all.
Aug 5th, 2011 at 8:43pm
These people who think marriage is between a man and a woman. Sue their butts off ACLU. Good for you. Stand up for America.
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