Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS

A Ukranian immigrant to the U.S. with a successful wedding planning business in Florida is standing up to the politically correct crowd – including the local media – who are attacking her for refusing to plan a lesbian wedding that she has a right to her beliefs and has no intention of backing down.

First Coast Media is reporting – or should we say misreporting – on the story of Lana Rusev, a wedding planner from Jacksonville, Florida, who exercised her constitutional rights when she turned down a request to plan the wedding of a lesbian couple.

“After checking our booked events I have discovered that we are booked on the 30th and 31st and unfortunately are not able to take additional events for the weekend,” Lana wrote to Melissa McCord and her partner about the wedding they recently asked her to plan. “Also, due to my strong personal belief, I do not feel comfortable planning a wedding for lesbian couples. I hope you understand and do not take this personally. I am really sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.”

In spite of Lana’s sincerity and politeness, the couple cried foul and alerted their LGBT friends in the area to inundate the Simply Elegant Wedding Planning business with threats and negative reviews.

But Lana would not be cowed. The refugee from the Ukraine, who tasted religious persecution first-hand in her homeland 26 years ago, defiantly told a local newspaper, “I understand that they may be hurt, but there are other wedding planners who are okay with doing this who are okay with doing this. Take your business elsewhere.”

In an interview with First Coast News, Lana adds, “”This takes me back to about 26 years ago when my family and I fled from a country that persecuted people for their belief.”

It’s not how she expected to be treated in America. “I believe people should be able to choose how they live their life. But for me because of my personal belief I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.”

The news outlet also quoted McCord as criticizing Lana for telling her the truth about her feelings rather than just sending an email saying she was already booked for that date.

“Just send me an email and let me know you were overbooked,” said McCord. “Don’t throw your belief in my face that you won’t do it because of what we are. My money is just as green as everybody else’s.”

The public has long since soured on the bullying tactics of same-sex marriage supporters and, in spite of First Coast News’ efforts to paint Lana as the villain and McCord as the victim, the story drew a slew of comments from people demanding that Lana’s rights be respected.

“Its ok to shove your lifestyle in our face but we can’t shove our beliefs in yours?” raged one commenter.

“Someone should not be forced to go against their religious beliefs,” another commented. “The letter was apologetic and respectful. Planning a wedding for someone is personal and involved. . . . It’s a personal task that takes time. If her heart wasn’t in it, better she should be upfront than take someone’s money and do a poor job.”

Lana herself went on the site to inform the public of everything else she said that First Coast News edited out of the story.

“For those who watched my interview with First Coast News I would like to fill you in on ALL of what I stated, not just the three lines they edited. It seemed like the media intended to tear us apart instead of bringing peace,” she wrote.

In their haste to make Lana look bad and the gay couple look good, they left out the part where Lana says, “With all due respect, I absolutely have nothing against these individuals. You have the right to live your lives as you please, But So Do I!”

She goes on to say that 26 years ago “my family and I fled a country that persecuted Christians for their belief. It’s really sad to see America becoming more and more like these countries that so many of us once fled.”

In addition to appealing to the growing concern of Americans about the loss of their freedoms, these comments threatened to make Lana look too much like a hero for standing for beliefs shared by a majority of her fellow citizens – so they were conveniently edited out of the broadcast.

“Shame on you Kietha and First Coast News for putting words I never spoke and for cutting out only what you needed to make me look like a hater and completely twisting my statement!” Lana blasted.

Welcome to the Left-controlled mainstream media, Lana. It no longer reports the real news – it only reports its version of the real news in an effort to convince the public that we’re becoming something we’re not.

As one commenter so aptly stated on the site: “The right to choose applies to everybody. You don’t like it, take it somewhere else. This is America and things are changing, but traditional values and beliefs will always be a part of this country!!”

Lana’s supporters are out in force on her Facebook page. Why not join them!

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