detrude

Christie DeTrude, owner of the Queen of Angels Catholic Bookstore in Jacksonville, reached a settlement with the city that will exempt the store on religious grounds from the Human Rights Ordinance.

Ms. DeTrude sued in February after the city updated its anti-discrimination ordinance in 2020 to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Hal Frampton, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, applauded the agreement, saying the ordinance would compel Ms. DeTrude to express messages at odds with her Catholic faith.

District Court Judge Timothy Corrigan denied in June the store’s request for a preliminary injunction, but instructed Ms. DeTrude to file an amended complaint and motion for summary judgment limited to the religious-exception argument.

Christie DeTrude said the ban on communication in the measure that could make someone feel “unwelcome” based on gender identity violates her First Amendment rights, The Washington Times’ Valerie Richardson reports.