Wedding Photographer Sues Over City's Public Accommodation Ordinance

Suit was filed in a Kentucky federal district court this week raising a pre-enforcement challenge to the application of Louisville, Kentucky's public accommodation ordinance to plaintiff's wedding photography business. The complaint (full text) in Chelsea Nelson Photography LLC v. Louisville/ Jefferson County Metro Government, (WD KY, filed 11/19/2019) says that plaintiff "only accepts requests for services which are consistent with her editorial, artistic, and religious judgment."  This precludes her from providing photography and social media services for same-sex weddings. The complaint alleges that enforcement of the ordinance against plaintiff would violate her free speech, free exercise and due process rights. ADF issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.