GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A local wedding venue plans to fight a citation issued against them after the city of Grand Rapids alleged the business violated its human rights ordinance.
Over the summer, the Grand Rapids Office of Equity and Engagement opened an investigation into the Broadway Avenue, a local wedding venue.
The owners, Hannah and Nick Natale, said they would not host marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples because of their religious beliefs.
READ MORE: GR wedding venue facing back lash for policy against same-sex couples
According to the city, at least four people filed complaints in response to the comments, which prompted the inquiry.
On September 30, the venue was issued a municipal civil infraction.
The city said it violated an ordinance, passed in 2019, which among other restrictions, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In a filing, the city wrote the Broadway Avenue did so in a way that it “adopted, enforced, or employed a policy or requirement, or published, posted, broadcasted, or distributed an advertisement, sign notice, or solicitation which discriminates, or suggested, supported, or affirmed discrimination, in the provision of public accommodations.”
It does not specify which protected class the venue discriminated against.
The couple’s attorney, David Kallman, called the penalty be the city “premature”.
He argued his clients never denied business to an LGBTQ+ couple and that they cannot be punished for their words.
“Nothing has happened,” said Kallman. “There’s been no action or activity against anybody. Just because somebody makes some statements or public affirmations of their beliefs doesn’t mean that they have actually violated somebody’s civil rights.”
He went onto say, “Until they have an actual person or persons who believe that they’ve been discriminated against, I don’t see how they have a case.”
Kallman noted the same local law in question also protects religious based discrimination. He added there are constitutional rights guaranteed to the owners under the first amendment.
“They’re [the city of Grand Rapids] setting up fights and battles between two different categories, both supposedly protected, so which one is going to win?” asked Kallman. “They [the Natales] are entitled to have their religious faith and make statements. That’s a free speech issue on top of the free exercise of religion.”
FOX17 has learned one of the complaints submitted was by the Surfus Foundation, a Grand Rapids organization that focuses on LGBTQ+ advocacy and public policy.
“Whenever we have businesses that discriminate and make people in our community feel unwelcome, we have to take action and ensure that that doesn’t become the norm for our community,” said Dr. Chris Surfus, founder.
According to the complaint, the foundation said an individual business owner’s beliefs cannot bear on the good and services they provide. It does not say if the foundation was personally discriminated by the venue’s policy.
“It’s not about their religious rights,” said Surfus. “They have the right to their first amendment constitutional rights… but when you’re providing a business service to the public, you have to provide that without discrimination to any group. If you feel like you can’t do that, hire a contractor or someone to come in [to] do the wedding for you.”
It’s unclear if any of the other complaints were filed by a couple turned down by the venue.
The owners of the Broadway Avenue must make their first court appearance on the civil infraction within the next two weeks.
Kallman says they plan to fight it to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
READ MORE: What happens when Grand Rapids investigates a possible human rights ordinance violation
