City Attorney: Hitching Post a 'Religious Corporation,' Can't be Forced to Perform Same-Sex Marriage

[rug]

Posted By Zach Hagadone on Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 12:58 PM

In the push and pull between a North Idaho wedding chapel and Coeur d'Alene's ordinance barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, city officials are saying "I don't."

According to the Coeur d'Alene Press, City Attorney Mike Gridley declined to press charges against the Hitching Post, whose owners made national headlines after refusing to provide wedding services for same-sex couples, despite the recent court ruling legalizing gay marriage in Idaho and Coeur d'Alene's nondiscrimination ordinance.

"The (city) prosecutor has declined to pursue criminal charges because the Hitching Post is a religious corporation that is exempt from the city's anti-discrimination ordinance," the city stated in an Oct. 24 news release.

According to the Press, the city's position that the Hitching Post is a "religious corporation" is a reversal of its earlier stance. The Hitching Post—which has been marrying North Idaho couples for almost a century—is organized as a for-profit, registered limited liability company, but owners Don and Evelyn Knapp filed a federal civil rights suit against the city of Coeur d'Alene in mid-October, claiming its nondiscrimination ordinance violated their religious rights by requiring them to carry out same-sex marriages.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2014/10/26/cda-city-attorney-hitching-post-a-religious-corporation-cant-be-forced-to-perform-same-sex-marriages

http://hitchingpostweddings.com/

[shenmue]

1. Overreach much?

What's a religious corporation? Is that a church?

Because it's not...

Fucking corporate personhood, damn you to the stars and back.

[rug]

2. Amen.

[okasha]

3. Amen, sister.

[cbayer]

4. Agree. Religious corporation?

I just read about that and it appears to be regulated at a state level and can impact taxa and reporting requirements.

If this is more fallout of the corporate personhood finding, that is frightening.

[NYC_SKP]

5. It's not for the city to decide, is it? This needs to go to a court.

Not that it will come down any differently, but I can't see a church getting away with a corporation loophole.

If they can do it than an incorporated community or municipality could, too.

Federal law now recognizes same-sex marriages in 32 states, including Idaho, and the District of Columbia, but that's still a far cry from required that the be recognized and performed in those states.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-government-recognizes-same-sex-marriages-in-six-more-states/

[customerserviceguy]

6. Why would a couple want to get married

by someone or some entity that disagrees with their beliefs?

In any case, I think the Hobby Lobby case covers this one.