Ruling in filmmaking/marriage case is a win for free speech

According to Minnesota officials, the State’s Human Rights Act mandates that if the Larsens make films celebrating marriage between one man and one woman, then they must make films celebrating same-sex marriages as well.

By Carl Larsen

My wife and I are professional storytellers. Through our family business, Telescope Media Group, we produce short films, commercials and documentaries. And we direct live events.

We serve everyone. We just cannot express every message or celebrate every event through our custom films.

To our dismay, several years ago we learned about a Minnesota law — or rather, the unusual application of one — that sought to interfere with our filmmaking choices. According to state officials, this law would force us to create films promoting messages in conflict with our deepest beliefs.

The state’s position put us to a terrible choice. We could bend to the state’s interpretation of the law and compromise our faith; we could follow our faith and risk severe penalties, including fines, damages, or even jail time; or we could ask a court to vindicate our fundamental rights before we entered the wedding film industry.

We opted for court, but only as a last resort. The issue was simple but huge: Can the state compel filmmakers’ speech — that is, can it force filmmakers to create content that violates their core beliefs — just because they offer to create films for a living?

Minnesota said “yes”; we said “no.” On Aug. 23, a federal appeals court issued a strong ruling in favor of our free-speech rights.

That’s a big win — not only for us, but for everyone.

This mandate would pose a problem for any filmmaker, religious or not. The state shouldn’t be able force you to speak messages that contradict what you believe.

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