Arlene's Flowers Fined $1,000 For Discrimination
NWNews | By Anna King,
Anna King
Published March 27, 2015 at 4:48 PM PDT
The state of Washington sued Richland florist Barronelle Stutzman for declining service to a gay couple.
A Richland, Washington, florist will pay $1,000 in fines to the state. The flower shop had discriminated against a same-sex couple that wanted flowers for their wedding in 2013.
The ruling, handed down Friday by a Benton County Superior Court judge, means Arlene’s Flowers can’t discriminate against same-sex couples if it chooses to continue selling flowers. All flowers at the shop have to cost the same and customers must be treated the same.
The florist will pay $1,000 in a penalty and $1 in costs and fees to the state for discrimination.
Anna King calls Richland, Washington home and loves unearthing great stories about people in the Northwest. She reports for the Northwest News Network from a studio at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. She covers the Mid-Columbia region, from nuclear reactors to Mexican rodeos.
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