Another photographer is taking a stand for freedom—this time in Kentucky…
  
Louisville wants to force this photographer to celebrate and participate in same-sex weddings

Besides the bride and groom, few people get to experience, celebrate, and participate in as many special moments of a wedding as the wedding photographer.

Wedding photographers have the privilege of telling a story about the couple’s love and taking part in the sacred ceremony when the groom and bride become husband and wife.

Because of her faith, Kentucky photographer and blogger Chelsey Nelson believes that weddings are a sacred union of one man and one woman. The photographs she takes and the blogs she writes celebrate each married couple and reflect her religious views about marriage.

The problem is that Louisville is interpreting its law to force Chelsey to photograph and blog about same-sex weddings if she does so for weddings between one man and one woman. And if Chelsey doesn’t participate in same-sex ceremonies, she could face financial penalties, court orders, and required compliance reports.

But the government should never have the power to punish someone for peacefully living and working consistently with their faith.
 
Chelsey believes that marriage is a sacred religious event

Chelsey is a Christian. She believes a wedding ceremony is a sacred event. The very definition of sacred is something that deserves the utmost respect because of its religious purpose—that’s why it’s called Holy Matrimony.

Chelsey objects to participating in same-sex weddings because doing so would be inconsistent with her religious beliefs. Her objection has nothing to do with declining to serve people who identify as gay or lesbian. For the same reason she wouldn’t photograph a zombie-themed wedding—she believes it undermines the sanctity of the wedding ceremony—she can’t photograph other weddings that violate her faith. But that doesn’t mean she has something against fans of the TV show The Walking Dead.

We've always agreed as American people to respect religious beliefs. The government or popular culture does not have the right to dictate Chelsey’s conscience—or anyone else’s.

But lately, we’re seeing more government officials who think it’s okay to force people of faith to promote and participate in events that contradict their religious convictions. That is exactly what’s happening to wedding photographer Chelsey Nelson in Kentucky.

What these officials fail to understand is that the First Amendment protects Chelsey’s right to freely speak and exercise her faith, even if they disagree with her views about marriage. This protection extends beyond her home or church—to every part of her life.

That’s the freedom we’re fighting for
 
Email from Alliance Defending Freedom info@adflegal.org