MINNEAPOLIS — A pair of St. Cloud, Minn., filmmakers on October 20 appealed a court order from September that dismissed their lawsuit challenging a state law that allows Minnesota officials to control the stories they tell. The law forces them to use their creative talents to promote same-sex marriages if they produce films that celebrate marriage between one man and one woman.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Carl and Angel Larsen and the company they own, Telescope Media Group, argued before a federal district court against dismissal and in favor of an order that would suspend enforcement of the law against the Larsens while their case proceeds.
The court denied that request and ruled in favor of the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which means the Larsens have to continue censoring their own speech about marriage to avoid violating the law.
“Creative professionals who engage in the expression of ideas shouldn’t be threatened with fines and jail simply for having a particular point of view about marriage that the government may not favor,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco.
“People should have the freedom to disagree on critical matters of conscience, which is why everyone, regardless of their view of marriage, can support the Larsens. The same government that can force them to violate their faith and conscience can force any one of us to do the same. That’s why we are appealing the district court’s ruling to the Eighth Circuit.”
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress