Court Slaps $13,000 fine to Farmers who Refused Gay Wedding

A New York Appeals Court has ordered the owners of a farm to pay a fine of $13,000 for refusing to host a same-sex wedding at their property.

New York's Supreme Court's Third Judicial Department handed down the ruling of unlawful discrimination by Cynthia and Robert Gifford for refusing to host the event on their property, Liberty Ridge Farm, in 2012.

According to the court, the farm is legally classified as public accommodation, and was open as a public venue for weddings and other ceremonies.

"It is undisputed that petitioners opened Liberty Ridge to the public as a venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions and offer several wedding-related event services in connection therewith," it was stated in the ruling.

"The fact that the wedding services occur on private property and pursuant to a written contract does not, as petitioners contend, remove Liberty Ridge's facilities from the reach of the Human Rights Law; the critical factor is that the facilities are made available to the public at large."

The decision by Judge Karen Peter's further stated that the ruling did not violate the religious rights of the Giffords, explaining that though the Giffords are free to "adhere to and profess their religious beliefs that same-sex couples should not marry", they are required to permit same-sex couples to marry on the premises if they choose to allow opposite-sex couples to do so.

Lesbian couple Jennie McCarthy and Melissa Erwin filed a discrimination case against the Giffords in 2012 after they were refused to use the farm as a wedding venue. A New York Human Rights Judge, ruled in 2014 that the Giffords were guilty of discrimination and were fined with a $13,000 penalty. Following the lawsuit, the Giffords announced that the farm would cease to host wedding ceremonies altogether.