Illinois Attorney General Sues B&B Owner Who Refused to Host Same Sex Ceremony
The hotel in question, Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast Cynthia Cochran Long / Via Facebook
An Illinois bed and breakfast that refused to host a gay couple’s civil union ceremony is also refusing to a pay a court-ordered settlement. Illinois’ Attorney General is now intervening in the case.
Todd and Mark Wathen sued the owner of Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast in Paxton back in 2011. They alleged the hotel refused to host the couple’s civil union ceremony because they were gay. Illinois’ Human Rights Commission sided with the couple, and in 2016 ordered the hotel to pay more than $80,000.
Since then, the hotel owner hasn’t paid up. So Attorney General Lisa Madigan is suing to recover the damages.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois helped represent the couple. Spokesman Ed Yohnka says this latest action could have been avoided.
“That’s really a shame," Yohnka said of the lawsuit. "It’s a shame that it’s had to reach this point. I think it’s a shame that the discrimination happened in the first instance.”
Yohnka says Walder has dragged his feet in the case for years.
“I think what is concerning is that not complying in this way is an indicia that the owner believes that they don’t have to comply with the law," Yohnka said. "You could be concerned with this happening to someone else.”
The hotel appealed the decision last year, but was denied. Owner Jim Walder has previously said hosting the couple’s ceremony would have violated his religious liberty. Walder referred comment this week to his attorney, who has so far not responded.