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100K raised for florist who refused gay couple's business

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
April 6, 2015

A Washington state florist has found support after she refused to provide flowers to a same-sex couple. 

Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers and Gifts, was fined $1,000 by the Benton County Superior Court in March.  The case and fine stem from Stutzman's refusal to serve a same-sex couple in 2013, The Seattle Times reported. 

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When word got out that the 70-year-old woman was fined, supporters set up a GoFundMe page to help her out and as of Monday afternoon, more than $103,000 was raised.  

According to the Los Angeles Times, Stutzman had provided flowers for nearly 10 years to the gay couple for various events, but she cited her religion as a Southern Baptist as the reason she would have to decline the job for the couple's wedding. 

Stutzman's case isn't the first one where a business was financially supported after refusing certain business from a same-sex couple. 

Last week, a pizza shop was the beneficiary of more than $842,000 in donations from the GoFundMe site.

Memories Pizza's owner went on camera saying they would refuse to cater a same-sex wedding because of their religion, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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