I wholeheartedly disagree with the majority of the emotional piece Mr. Elfers wrote. The fact that the customer had been friends with the florist owner who even accepted gays as employees just shows that she is not a true friend when she refused to provide for a legal gay wedding for her friend.

I’m sure the judicial process was a nightmare, but, she was not mistreated, whether she was a Christian business woman or not. Grandma title plays no part here, business owner does.

Religious persecution plays no part in this incident or any other so called Obama administration restriction or rhetorically stated attacks. The separation of church and state (federally employed military chaplains included) is clear in the First Amendment.

Following laws, of which are not approved solely by a president or its administration, but rather, Congress, is not a show of bigotry but rather, upholding of state or federal laws. The anti-discrimination law is there to protect all of us, as people, not as believers or non-believers.

Side note, a Republican majority Senate voted to block a ban of same sex marriage in the Constitution in 2004. Hardly Obama. This culture of intolerance is exacerbated by religious groups or individuals attempting to side step the laws of this country, even those held up in Superior Court. The shocking behavior is that of the one currently holding the highest office in our country also sidestepping the Constitution with his personal selling of religious preferences. I don’t remember this happening in the last eight years. Let’s face it people, government cannot rule by religion and religion can’t rule government.

Elane Johnson

Maple Valley