‘Blatant discrimination:’ Christian B&B owner fined $80K for refusing gay ‘wedding’ continues fight
The Illinois Human Rights Commission has ordered a Christian businessman to pay two homosexuals $30,000 because he declined to host their gay "wedding." A panel of three commission members refused to hear an appeal from TimberCreek Bed and Breakfast owner Jim Walder, who in 2011 turned down a gay couple's request to celebrate their "union" at the Christian-owned business on religious grounds. In addition to the $30,000 that Walder was ordered to pay for causing emotional distress, he is responsible for more than $50,000 in attorney fees. Two of the three commission members on the panel were publicly involved in gay activism and/or were openly homosexual, according to Walder. "The fix was in from the get-go," Walder said. He plans to appeal to the full commission. The small business owner told The Christian Post that "to host gay marriage" violates his "sincerely-held Biblical belief that marriage is between o