NM business appeals court ruling in gay bias case

Albuquerque, N.M.  (AP) — The nation's highest court is being asked to overturn a ruling that an Albuquerque business owned by gay marriage opponents violated a state anti-discrimination law when it refused to photograph a same-sex couple's commitment ceremony.

A law firm representing Elane Photography, owned by Jon and Elaine Huguenin of New Mexico, are now involved in a Supreme Court filed the appeal Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court. The court is expected to decide in late fall or over the winter whether to hear the case.

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in August that the business's refusal to photograph the ceremony involving two women violated the state's Human Rights Act.

Specifically, on Aug. 22, the New Mexico high court upheld a decision against Elane Photography after its co-owner, Elaine Huguenin, declined to photograph the 2006 same-sex ceremony.

Lawyers for the business say the ruling violates the business owners' free speech rights by compelling them to "express messages that conflict with their religious beliefs."

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press
Posted The Gayly, Nov. 8, 5pm