Two Christian artists in Arizona may be put in jail and slapped with fines after they refused to make invitations for gay weddings.
Christian women Joanna and Breanna, who own Brush & Nib Studio, a company that makes custom stationery and invitations for weddings and other events, are being accused of violating an ordinance passed by the city of Phoenix that protects homosexuals from discrimination, The Christian Post reports.
The Christian business owners are required under the ordinance to cater to all customers, including same-sex couples for their wedding invitations — something they refuse to do for gay couples due to their faith.
In a further restriction to freedom of speech, the ordinance also prevents Joanna and Breanna "from explaining to customers and the public why they could only create art consistent with their beliefs about marriage."
As a result of their refusal to make wedding invitations for homosexual couples, the Christian businesswomen face a $2,500 fine and even imprisonment for up to six months.
Jonathan Scruggs of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is representing Joanna and Breanna, maintained that his clients did not do anything wrong, and were only upholding their Christian values. He also said the two should be given some form of artistic freedom.
"Artists shouldn't be threatened with jail time and other penalties simply for making art that is consistent with their beliefs," Scruggs said.
However, Judge Karen Mullins of the Superior Court in Maricopa County denied Joanna and Breanna's plea against the Phoenix ordinance, calling their position "absurd." The Christian women are considering filing an appeal, according to their lawyer.
The Christian women's religious freedom would have been more protected if former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer chose two years ago to pass and not veto Senate Bill 1062, which does not allow Christians to be forced to violate their convictions, their lawyer said.
