Ministers Threatened with Jail/Fines For Refusing to Officiate at Gay Weddings

[Rev. Rye]

First amendments rights don't cease to exist when you incorporate. You are just plain wrong if you think they do. However, laws do trump first amendment rights when they apply to everyone(this law does not as it exempts church ministers selling the same product) and when they serve a compelling government interest(gays are not being disenfranchised as there is a courthouse 400' away). The fact that a law can trump the First Amendemnt in limited situations is why you can't use the First Amendment as cover for killing someone.

Quick question: if these ministers were refusing to officiate at an interracial wedding instead of a gay wedding, would you still defend them?

I ask this because people can easily deny the same services to interracial couples for the same exact reasons they give for gay marriages. Bear in mind that, until recently, Bob Jones University refused to allow interracial dating, and cited their religious convictions as defense.