Photographer Emilee Carpenter Wins Crucial Free Speech Victory Against New York
A Christian wedding photographer has won a crucial free speech victory against New York.
Emilee Carpenter, a photographer, blogger and owner of Emilee Carpenter Photography, is based in Upstate New York. Emilee loves to use her creative abilities to glorify God, particularly through wedding photography.
She says her love for celebrating marriage comes from her own Christian faith and marriage story.
“I believe that love is so much more than a feeling and that marriage points to something greater, something deeper – to Jesus Christ!” Emilee says.
“I believe that marriage is a picture of the gospel and demonstrates the redemptive love of Jesus Christ, who willingly gave Himself up for us by going to the cross, paying the debt for our sins, and paving a way for us to be united with Him.”
On her website, Emilee explains that her faith guides her in all she does – including her wedding photography business. Because of her faith, Emilee discloses,
However, New York state’s public accommodation law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. It requires Emilee to violate her conscience and create photographs and blogs celebrating so-called same-sex weddings. It also prohibits her from adopting an editorial policy, like the one seen above, stipulating she won’t create content celebrating same-sex weddings.
If she fails to comply with the state’s totalitarian dictate, New York threatens to revoke her business license, fine her up to $100,000 and send her to jail for up to one year.
To protect her First Amendment right to free speech, Emilee challenged New York’s law in court. Carpenter is represented by lawyers with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
You can learn more about Emilee’s story by watching the brief video below:
In May, a federal district court ruled in Emilee’s favor, deciding that “it is now beyond debate” that New York’s laws “may not be ‘applied to expressive activity to compel speech.’”
Because of that decision, Emilee has now entered into a court-approved settlement stopping New York officials from violating Emilee’s free speech rights and requiring New York to pay $225,000 in attorneys’ fees.
“Free speech is for everyone, and we’re pleased to settle this case so that Emilee can speak her views on marriage without the threat of being punished by New York,” said ADF Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart in a statement, adding,
Congratulations to Emilee Carpenter and the ADF attorneys involved in this important case; we thank them for standing strong to secure this vital win for free speech.
The case is Emilee Carpenter Photography v. James.
Related articles and resources:
Christian Wedding Photographer Emilee Carpenter Wins Free Speech Victory
Faithful Christian Witness in Our Modern World is Costly
Photo from Alliance Defending Freedom.
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