A husband and wife, who own a 24-unit, family-owned, family-run Inn, have been charged with violating Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act ("Act") in reference to a same-sex civil union ceremony. The owners are represented by Liberty Counsel.

The home is located on the same property as the Inn, where the couple raise their 8 children, ranging in age from 7 to 25 years old. The children help run the Inn, with the children on average beginning at age 14 to work during the weekends and some evenings.

Among its many amenities, the Inn offers wedding planning services. These include lodging, facilities for the wedding and reception, catering, rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions, and assisting with arrangements for flowers, decorations, wedding cakes and entertainment. This year the Inn will host approximately 7 or 8 wedding receptions. In one recent wedding reception, Jim spent approximately 40 hours with the couple prior to the wedding day. He spends this time in order to help the parties plan their wedding and provides significant hands-on assistance.

A woman phoned the Inn only once, inquiring about holding a civil union reception at the Inn. Neither owner refused to host the reception, but the husband did explain that based upon his beliefs about marriage, he would have a difficult time putting his heart behind the project. The Inn does more than just open its doors for a reception. The owners are actively involved in the entire process, acting in a manner akin to a wedding coordinator. The woman has now filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

Liberty Counsel filed a response to the charge, asking that it be dismissed. Neither owner refused to host the event. The husband merely stated that he could not put his heart into the event, because as a Roman Catholic, his religious beliefs oppose same-sex unions. He did say that if Ms. Parker really desired to hold the reception, then he would be willing to meet with her to discuss possible arrangements. Liberty Counsel also argues that there must be an exemption to the discrimination charge based upon the free exercise of religion, free association, and the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. In 1994, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that a Roman Catholic owner of a printing company could assert, as a defense to a claim of discrimination, that printing "pro-choice" flyers would cause the owner to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs.

Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, commented: "This case seeks to authorize the government to become thought police. This case also illustrates the radical nature of the same-sex agenda - to target a family-owned Inn based upon one telephone call wherein the operator clearly admits that he could not put his heart into a same-sex civil union ceremony. Forget tolerance - this case is about forcing others to endorse same-sex unions."