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Christian florist fined for refusing gay sale

Arlene's Flowers and Gifts in Richland, Washington, was told to pay £675 after it said it would not sell wedding flowers to the same sex couple in 2013.

The owner, Ms Stutzman, has now raised £57,000 on a gofundme.com page, with most of the cash being donated in the last few days.

It comes after a Indiana pizza restaurant raised more than 800,000 dollars when it closed after saying it would not cater for gay weddings.

As well as a fine a court ruled the florist must sell the same products to straight and gay couples.

Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson said the woman was offered to chance to change the way her business worked before any action was taken.

He said she was only taken to court when she again declined to sell to gay people, saying it was against her Southern Baptist beliefs.

"It's about freedom, not money," she told the attorney general.

"I certainly don't relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my freedom to honour God in doing what I do best is more important."

The money, donated by more than 2,000 people will be used to cover legal bills.

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