You can tell your friends, you read this story on Frankly Speaking before it hit the Associated Press.

Earlier, I wrote a post about Len and Terry Bernardo who have been threatened by the Division of Human Rights in the State of New York for playing Christian music as well as advertising for the “Christian skate.” But not only have they been notified, but the newspaper that ran their ad has been informed that it may be guilty of aiding and abetting the so-called “discrimination.”

I interviewed Terry today about how it all got started. At this point, all she can guess is that someone complained to the Human Rights Division, although she does not know for sure. She said she received an anonymous e-mail that warned her she better get a lawyer. It didn’t make sense until she received a letter from the HRD.

Terry is emphatic that they do not discriminate at her business. Anyone is allowed to skate according to Terry. “You don’t have to say you love Jesus to get in,” said Terry. She said any one and every one is welcome. She said that she and her husband just wanted to provide a night where the music is of the “Christian genre.”

“It’s just billboard Christian music,” she said.

Terry says that the Associated Press contacted her today. Also, Terry and her husband have been contacted by Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice. Sekulow has expressed an interest in meeting the couple, according to Terry.

In the letter faxed to me by Terry Bernardo, the Division of Human Rights claims that Skate Time 209’s advertisement that announces a “Christian Skate” “clearly seeks the patronage of Christian skaters and apparently denies or at a minimum discourages non-Christian patronage, constitutes a prima facie violation of Human Rights Law 296.2(a) (Executive Law, Art. 15) This statute provides:

2. (a) It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent agent or employee of any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement, because of the race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, or disability or marital status of any person, directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from or deny to such person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges thereof,…”

The letter threatens the Ulster County Press by stating “Furthermore, a newspaper which publishes advertisements which express unlawful discrimination pursuant to Human Rights law can be charged with “aiding and abetting” such unlawful discrimination pursuant to Human Rights Law 296.6.”

Terry Bernardo said that they changed the ad to read “spiritual” instead of Christian and were told that it still wasn’t acceptable, that it was “a moot point.”

I am shocked at where we have come in this country. Based on this logic and this law, bars could not host “Ladies Night,” county fairs couldn’t host “Senior Day” or “Kids Night”, and heck, Shoney’s couldn’t have “Mother’s Day with free strawberry pie for Mom.”

Terry’s understanding from the HRD is that by designating a skate with Christian music, that people who do not like Christian music are discouraged from coming in. The skates were scheduled for Sunday afternoons between 1 and 4PM.
Terry said that she just wants the case to go away, that she doesn’t want to fight. But she also says she hasn’t done anything discriminatory and that she will do what she needs to do to protect her business. Terry and her husband Len, were prepared to retire. Instead of doing so, they decided to operate a skating rink for the community and for fun.

I feel badly that Terry and Len are having to go through this situation. I offer them prayers and hopes of courage.

If they should find themselves on the losing end of this situation, all I can say is that freedom in America is surely dwindling away.

UPDATE: Here is a link to a small AP story about the issue. The story includes a survey for you.

(Note as well: I asked the Bernardo’s if they receive any government grants or tax dollars.  Terry said “no.”  She said they privately own their skating rink business.)