Arlene's Flowers refuses gay wedding; worker quits in Richland, WA

[eridani]

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/03/07/2303853/worker-quits-arlenes-flowers-in.html

Arlene's Flowers owner Barronelle Stutzman considered it a matter of conscience to refuse to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. Now one of her employees considered it a matter of conscience to refuse to continue working for her.

Eryn Hugo, who had worked for the Richland flower shop for about a year and a half, told the Herald she resigned on Tuesday, saying she considered it her moral and ethical obligation to leave her employment.

"I couldn't even give two weeks," Hugo said. "I've never walked out on a job before."Hugo said she made the decision after "a lot of soul searching" after a workplace meeting Stutzman called on Monday to discuss with employees what happened when Rob Ingersoll of Kennewick came in to order flowers for his wedding to his longtime male partner.

[dbackjon]

1. Congrats to Eryn!!

And this should be against the law.

Would people be okay with them refusing to provide flowers to a wedding based on color of skin?

[Evasporque]

2. good...

She will no doubt be hired quickly by a less hateful flower shop.

[RobNM]

3. Call 509-946-7676

I just called Arlene's Flowers and spoke with Baronella (the owner) to ask if she would consider the damage and division she is causing by discriminating "in the name of Jesus". She hung up on me. I called back and she answered, telling me how busy she was with all of her good customers. She said that she will gladly sell flowers for gay birthday parties, for gay funerals, because getting older and dying didn't offend her god. However, marriage equality is not approved by her god, therefore she is better serving her god by being the "marriage police". She was condescending and rude, with a little bit of that phony politeness as she once again told me she was far too busy to discuss the matter. She said that she had done nothing to cause division, but the media had caused all the frauckass. It sounds much like the republican talking point of "we are not treating gays badly personally". Baronella started to quote scriptures to me over the phone, and it made me wonder if she was wearing cotton and polyester (which is also forbidden in the Old Testament). Perhaps she was one of the disobedient children that the bible advises stoning to death at adolescence!

Her phone number is 509-946-7676. If you feel strongly about the actions she is taking "in the name of Jesus", pick up the phone to let her know.

[In_The_Wind]

4. Really!

[hrmjustin]

5. Welcome to DU RobNM!

[Zorra]

6. I love folks like Eryn. Standing up and sacrificing for what is right.

I'm sure some kind person will hire her and value her greatly as an employee with integrity.