COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) – The City of Coeur d’Alene has settled a lawsuit brought by wedding chapel owners who oppose same sex marriage.
Coeur d'Alene agreed Friday to pay the Hitching Post $1,000 but not to change its non-discrimination ordinance.
The city's ordinance makes it illegal to discriminate because of sexual orientation but includes an exception for religious organizations.
City attorney Mike Gridley said they made the exact offer of $1,000.01 “just to make it go away.”
Gridley said he believes they would have prevailed at trial, but the costs in staff and attorney fees would have been much higher.
The Alliance Defending Freedom sued Coeur d'Alene on behalf of Hitching Post Weddings owners, who say the ordinance violated their right to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion.
The lawsuit came shortly after Idaho's same-sex marriage ban was struck down.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jonathan Scruggs says he views the settlement as a win.