Swedish kennel
refuses to sell puppy to lesbian

A Swedish court has imposed a $2,600 fine on a kennel owner who refused to sell a puppy to a lesbian. The kennel owner, who was not identified, had initially been willing to sell the woman a puppy but changed her mind when she found out the woman was living with a lesbian partner, according to Sweden's discrimination ombudsman, a government watchdog who filed the lawsuit.

The Nacka district court outside Stockholm issued the ruling on Thursday, the ombudsman's office said. "This is an important verdict," said Hans Ytterberg, who heads the ombudsman 's office. "It is important that these incidents are tried in court." (AP)