Albany, NY – A lesbian couple claims they were turned away from a possible wedding venue location because they are gay. The two New York women filed a discrimination complaint with the state Division of Human Rights. The complaint against the farm owners is the first of its kind since New York legalized same-sex marriage last year.
Jennie McCarthy and Melisa Erwin filed the discrimination complaint against Liberty Ridge Farm after the owners reportedly told the women they could not hold their wedding on the property next summer, according to WNYT-TV News .
McCarthy had this to say about the human rights discrimination complaint:
“When we asked why the owners told us, ‘That’s what my husband and I decided. We’ve been married a long time and it’s great you’re getting married and all, but you can’t do it here.’ ”
Liberty Ridge Farms is a popular location for the exchange of marriage vows. A total of 15 weddings were booked on the picturesque grounds this year. Despite the discrimination complaint and comments from critics, farm owner, Robert Gifford, is steadfast in his opposition to permitting same-sex marriages on his property.
Gifford had this to say about the matter during a WNYT-TV News interview:
“I think it’s our right to choose who we market to, like any business. We are a family business and we just feel we ought to stay down the family path.”
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms representative, Jason McGuire, believes that the Liberty Ridge Farm owner’s rights are being violated and noted they will contest the gay marriage discrimination complaint, The Blaze reports.
