Task Force: Hitching Post Exempt

In a letter to Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer and the City Council, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations said that it considers the ministers at the Hitching Post exempt from city’s anti-discrimination ordinance. Hitching Post owners have said they will not perform gay marriages. The task force received this advice from constitutional experts:

“When they are performing a religious activity like marrying people, ministers have the right to choose which marriages they will solemnize. That’s why we don’t think the public accommodation law applies to ministers making choices about performing marriages. So, if the only service offered is a religious wedding ceremony performed by a minister, then the law would not apply. But that reasonable exception doesn’t change the general rule that businesses that open their doors to the public to provide services, including services related to weddings, cannot turn people away just because of who they are.”

The task force concludes in the letter: “Based upon these facts and findings, we believe the City of Coeur d’Alene Anti-Discrimination Ordinance due to the religious exemption is not at issue and is not impacted regarding performing weddings by ordained ministers at the Hitching Post Chapel in Coeur d’Alene.” Full letter here.

• Also: Coeur d’Alene says Hitching Post is exempt from gay-rights law /Jessica Robinson, NW News Network

Thoughts?