The New Mexico
Human Rights Commission ruled in favor of Vanessa Willock,
who in 2006 filed suit against photographer Elaine
Huguenin for refusing to photograph her commitment
ceremony because of her personal religious beliefs,
the Associated Press reported.
The commission's
April 9 ruling instructed Huguenin to pay $6,637 for
Willock's attorneys fees. In an e-mail, both Willock and her
attorney, Julie Sakura, said they were pleased with
the verdict.
However, the
Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian legal
organization, is planning to appeal the ruling. ADF senior
counsel Jordan Lorence said in a statement that
Huguenin as a Christian woman would not have
photographed anything that went against her religion, such
as showing abortion in a positive light or
photographing a horror movie. Refusing service because
of religious beliefs is a right protected by the First
Amendment, argues Lorence.
Lorence said he
will take the appeal "as far as it will go." (The
Advocate)
