From The Washington Times:
WASHINGTON TIMES - A Catholic family is suing the city of East Lansing, Michigan, after their farm was kicked out of the city farmers market for refusing to host same-sex weddings.
Steve Tennes, owner of Country Mill Farms in Charlotte, is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom advocacy group in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday, claiming his farm has been targeted because of his family’s religious beliefs, the Lansing State Journal reported.
“Our faith and beliefs on marriage and hosting weddings at our home and in our backyard of our farm have nothing to do with the city of East Lansing,” Mr. Tennes said at a press conference Wednesday. “Nor does it have anything to do with the produce that we sell to the people that attend the farmers markets who are from all backgrounds and all beliefs.”
The city says farmers, even those not located within East Lansing, have to agree with its non-discrimination ordinance in order to participate in the market.
“I think it’s a very strong principle that you should not be discriminating against somebody elsewhere and then come here and want to participate in our market,” East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas told a local NBC affiliate.
The situation started in August, when someone inquired on Country Mill’s Facebook page whether they hosted gay weddings at the farm. Mr. Tennes said no, explaining that his Catholic family believes marriage should be between one man and one woman, he told Fox News’ Todd Starnes.