Kerby Anderson

A family in Michigan was banned from selling their organic apples, peaches, and cherries at the farmers market. They weren’t banned because their produce is inferior or unfit for human consumption. They were banned because they believe in traditional marriage. They own a 120-acre farm and often bring some of their produce into the city to sell at the seasonal market. The farm also has a Facebook page. Their problem started when they expressed their traditional view of marriage on the page. They received a warning from an official but no one showed up to protest, so they continued to sell their apples, peaches, and cherries. This year the town of East Lansing moved to ban the farm from participating in the farmers market this summer. The city cited its human relations ordinance that includes sexual orientation. In fact, they made it clear that their decision to exclude the family farm had nothing to do with their religious beliefs but with the family’s decision not to host same-sex weddings. A few years ago, two lesbians wanted to get married on the farm, but the family turned them down. The family merely referred them to an orchard that held same-sex weddings. The two women were married a year ago at that venue, but one of the women wrote a Facebook post discouraging consumers from doing business with the family. It is worth noting that the family farm is 22 miles outside the city. But the East Lansing city officials have prevented the family from selling their produce because they believe the public statements from the family violate the city’s human relations ordinance prohibiting discrimination. This is but one more example of how a state or local ordinance or a public accommodation rule has been used against Christians who believe in the biblical view of marriage. The Alliance Defending Freedom is pursuing the case. Christians must be allowed to apply their biblical convictions to their business and property.