ALBANY, NY (AP) – The owners of an upstate wedding venue fined $13,000 for refusing to host a lesbian wedding say they will not appeal a court ruling affirming that they violated New York’s anti-discrimination law.
Robert and Cynthia Gifford cited their conservative Christian beliefs in refusing to host the 2013 wedding of Melisa and Jennie McCarthy at Liberty Ridge Farm, north of Albany. A state appeals court in January rejected the Gifford’s argument that their rights were being violated and upheld a ruling from the state’s Division of Human Rights.
A lawyer for the Giffords released a statement Tuesday saying they would not appeal. The lawyer said the couple is evaluating how to run their business “under a legal regime that disregards their convictions.”
The McCarthys married at another upstate farm.
