By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor PHOENIX (LBM) — The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Christian friends who serve homosexuals among the clientele of their calligraphy and hand-painting business, but ran afoul of a city ordinance by refusing to honor same-sex weddings with their artwork. State law prohibits businesses from discriminating, but does not include homosexuality as a protected class. However, Phoenix is one of four Arizona cities that passed ordinances that offer special rights regarding sexual orientation and do not allow exceptions for religious convictions with regard to providing services for same-sex weddings. Consequently, the owners of the Brush and Nib Studio, Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, faced fines up to $2,500 and six months in jail for each day they refused to comply with the ordinance with regard to using their talents to create wedding invitations for same-sex couples. The Arizona Supreme Court voted 4-3 that the Phoenix measure was coercive, stating in the majority opinion that “an individual has autonomy over his or her speech and thus may not be forced to speak a message he or she does not wish to say.” The court cited the precedent of the federal First Amendment in making … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ATHENS, Ga. (LBM)—Researchers with the College of Public Health of the University of Georgia have found that “non-dating” adolescents are less likely to exhibit depression and are rated above their peers in social skills and leadership ability. The importance of the study is embedded in statistics that show 56 percent of girls and 49 percent of boys who are 15 years old report having had at least one special romantic relationship in the previous 18 months. The study involved nearly 600 sophomores who were compared as four groups with regard to dating (low, increasing, high, frequent) to see how they “differed on emotional, interpersonal, and adaptive skills,” using teacher observations in the three areas and student self-reports (positive relationships, depression and suicidal ideation). The data showed that “adolescents who were not in a romantic relationship had good social skills and low depression” compared to peers who dated. … [Read more...]