Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn
What's at Stake
Kate Linsley (formerly Baker) and Ming Linsley planned to marry in Vermont. After they got engaged, Ming's mother, Channie, took the lead in helping the couple find a venue for their reception. Like many mothers, she was ecstatic to have the opportunity to help her daughter and future daughter-in-law plan their celebration.
Summary
On October 20, 2010, Channie contacted the Vermont Convention Bureau (VCB) outlining her needs for a place to host the reception. The VCB sent information about Channie’s search to its membership list the next day. One of the businesses on VCB’s membership list is the Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, VT. On October 29, the Wildflower Inn contacted Channie, indicating that the inn would be the “perfect location” to host their reception after the wedding.
On November 5, Channie spoke by telephone with a representative of the Wildflower Inn to discuss details about planning the reception. During the conversation, the Wildflower Inn employee made a reference to “the bride and groom,” and Channie clarified that the reception would involve two brides.
Within a few minutes after she got off the phone, Channie received an email from the Wildflower Inn employee with the subject heading “bad news,” which informed her that Kate and Ming were not welcome at the Wildflower Inn.
The email read in part: “After our conversation, I checked in with my Innkeepers and unfortunately due to their personal feelings, they do not host gay receptions at our facility.”
The Wildflower Inn is a multi-room country resort that offers a variety of recreational opportunities and vacation packages. Their website claims that they are the “Four Seasons for Everyone.” But apparently “everyone” did not include Kate and Ming.
The Vermont Human Rights Law has prohibited public accommodations from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation for nearly 20 years. Today the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Vermont filed a complaint in Vermont Superior Court asking the court to declare that the Wildflower Inn’s no-gay-receptions policy is illegal and to issue an injunction prohibiting the Wildflower Inn’s owners from continuing to enforce their discriminatory policy.
This case is about discrimination, plain and simple. When a business that is open to the public refuses to serve two people and their guests solely because the two people are a same sex couple, it is no different than restaurants not serving individuals because they were black, or other businesses keeping out women or Jews. It is discrimination and it is illegal.
STATUS: Victory! Settlement reached.
Legal Documents
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12/28/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Order Granting Motion to Amend
Date Filed: 12/28/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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12/22/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Reply in Further Support of Motion to Amend
Date Filed: 12/22/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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12/22/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Discovery Responses
Date Filed: 12/22/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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12/13/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Objection to Motion to Amend
Date Filed: 12/13/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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11/22/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend
Date Filed: 11/22/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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11/22/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Second Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 11/22/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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11/15/2011
Linsley and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Order Granting the Vermont Human Rights Commission's Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 11/15/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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11/08/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Appearance Pro Hac Vice
Date Filed: 11/08/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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10/20/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Motion for Appearance Pro Hac Vice
Date Filed: 10/20/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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10/19/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Notice Regarding the VT Human Rights Commission's Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 10/19/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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10/17/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Objection to Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 10/17/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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10/03/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Vermont Human Rights Commission's Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 10/03/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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08/22/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice
Date Filed: 08/22/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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08/22/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn – Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 08/22/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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08/05/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Stipulation as to Defendant's Answer Deadline
Date Filed: 08/05/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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08/02/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn – Settlement Agreement
Date Filed: 08/02/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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07/29/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Motion for Admission
Date Filed: 07/29/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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07/27/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 07/27/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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07/19/2011
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Complaint
Date Filed: 07/19/2011
Affiliate: Vermont
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05/10/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiffs' Third Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 05/10/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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05/10/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Intervenor's Complaint
Date Filed: 05/10/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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04/11/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Court Order Denying Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, Granting Vermont Human Rights Commission's Renewed Motion to Intervene, and Granting Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend
Date Filed: 04/11/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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03/21/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Reply to Plaintiffs' Opposition to Motion to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint and Opposition to Third Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 03/21/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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03/21/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Vermont Human Right's Commission's Reply in Support of Its Renewed Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 03/21/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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03/09/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Opposition to Vermont Human Right's Commission's Renewed Motion to Intervene and Related Intervenor Complaint
Date Filed: 03/09/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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03/05/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Leave to Amend
Date Filed: 03/05/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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03/05/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Third Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 03/05/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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02/22/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Vermont Human Rights Commission's Renewed Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 02/22/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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02/22/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 02/22/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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02/22/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Intervenor Complaint of Vermont Human Rights Commission
Date Filed: 02/22/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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01/30/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendant's Emergency Motion for Protective Order
Date Filed: 01/30/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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01/30/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Order Denying Defendant's Emergency Motion for Protective Order
Date Filed: 01/30/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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01/26/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Emergency Motion for Protective Order
Date Filed: 01/26/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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01/18/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Plaintiffs' Reply in Further Support of Motion to Compel
Date Filed: 01/18/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
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01/09/2012
Baker and Linsley v. Wildflower Inn - Defendant's Objection to Motion to Compel
Date Filed: 01/09/2012
Affiliate: Vermont
Press Releases
Vermont Resort to Pay Fine and Revise Policies to Settle Discrimination Lawsuit by Lesbian Couple
Vermont Resort Illegally Discriminated Against Lesbian Couple, Says ACLU
