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Arizona wedding planner refuses to work with same-sex couple, not deemed discrimination

This isn't the first time the couple has faced public opposition to their way of life.

By Thor Benson
Crystal Allen and Kenyata White. (azcentral.com)
Crystal Allen and Kenyata White. (azcentral.com)

PHOENIX, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- An Arizona wedding planner recently refused to work with a lesbian couple, and a Phoenix attorney says it's legal.

The couple, Crystal Allen and Kenyata White, went to AfffordableWeddingMinister.com to find someone to plan their wedding. After White spent about a month working with Reverend Susan Latimer over the phone and through email, Latimer realized the couple was two lesbians. Upon realizing it would be a same-sex marriage, Latimer refused to do business with the couple.

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Discrimination based on sexual orientation is supposed to be illegal in Phoenix, Ariz., especially since same-sex marriage was made legal recently. However, an attorney named Brendan Mahoney, who helped write the Phoenix ordinance protecting against such discrimination, said this situation doesn't count as discrimination under the ordinance.

"If they're licensed ministers, they get to say who they want to marry and who they don't," he said. It's considered a freedom of religion situation. Even though the website did not advertise a religious affiliation, is not registered as a religious entity and serves people of all faiths, he claims they can refuse to do business with homosexuals because the planner is a reverend.

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The same couple has experienced troubles over their sexual orientation before, as seen last year when they were asked to leave a Phoenix restaurant because they were kissing and hugging, reports the The Arizona Republic.

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