Christian Photographer Challenges the Law that is about to Force Him to Photograph Same-Sex Weddings

Bob Updegrove, a photographer from
Virginia, has filed a lawsuit challenging
a new state law that would force him
to photograph same-sex weddings
despite his Christian beliefs on
marriage.
The Virginia Values Act , which was
enacted July 1, 2020, calls religious
institutions to hire employers without
discriminating against a person’s
sexual orientation or gender identity.
The new law also restricts Updegrove
from publicly stating why he solely
celebrates marriage between a man
and a woman on his photography
website.
Alliance Defending Freedom , a
Christian non-profit legal organization
representing Updegrove in court, noted
that the state of Virginia considers the
photographer’s words “discriminatory”.
On Friday, ADF Senior Counsel
Jonathan Scruggs, will be making the
case for Updegrove in federal court.
“Photographers, like all other
Americans, should be free to peacefully
live, work, and create art that’s
consistent with their deeply held beliefs
—without the fear of government
punishment,” Scruggs contended.
“Because of the state’s interpretation
of its law, photographers like Bob face
an impossible choice: violate the law
and risk bankruptcy, promote views
against their faith, or close down.
Scruggs noted that Virginia “has a long
and important history of protecting
constitutional freedoms,” asserting that
“this kind of government hostility
toward people of faith has no place in
a free society.”
According to a one page summary of
the case, Updegrove v. Herring,
Updegrove could face fines of up to
$50,000 in an initial violation of the
new law. If violated a second time, the
fine would raise to $100,000 with every
additional violation.
Alliance Defending Freedom’s
Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse
explained Updegrove’s Christian beliefs
on heterosexual marriage to CBN
News .
“He believes marriage is between one
man and one woman. And Bob serves
everyone; he just can’t convey all
messages,” Widmalm-Delphonse
explained.
In a media call, Updegrove shared how
he felt slandered by state lawmakers
for forcing him to work against his
beliefs.
“If the government can tell you what to
do, what to say and what to create,
then we do not live in a free America,”
Updegrove asserted.