New Mexico's highest court has ruled that a commercial photography business violated a state anti-discrimination law by refusing to take pictures of a gay couple's commitment ceremony.
Elaine Huguenin, co-owner of Elane Photography in Albuquerque, opposes same-sex marriage and had refused to photograph the 2006 event because of her religious beliefs.
The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday the business's refusal to photograph the ceremony between two women violated New Mexico's Human Rights Act "in the same way as if it had refused to photograph a wedding between people of different races."
The court rejected arguments that the state law violated the photographer's right to free speech.
The justices said a business could declare in its advertising that it opposes same-sex marriage but it has to comply with the anti-discrimination law.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.