The Hitching Post plot thickens in a truly remarkable way

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10/21/2014

by Jeremy Hooper

When I first learned about the story of Idaho's Hitching Post, which was suddenly the far-right's latest marriage "victim" for supposedly being threatened by the city of Coeur d’Alene for not marrying a same-sex couple, I thought the whole thing was too coincidental to be true. I didn't focus on it in my last post on the subject since I had the much more newsworthy discovery that the business had changed its website so that they could seem much more faith-driven than they had been operating in the past. But a part of me was wondering how the same business that went to the press back in May with its preemptive marriage fears, well before Idaho had marriage equality, could now be in the spotlight in such a major way. it just seemed too perfectly orchestrated.

Well that's because it might all be a load of crap. Or at least purposely twisted to make them seem like victims. Or something. Whatever the full story, this is a truly explosive development that makes all involved look terrible:

News of the lawsuit sparked national headlines over the weekend, primarily from conservative media, claiming that the city is threatening to arrest the Knapps.

"We have never threatened to jail them, or take legal action of any kind," said city spokesman Keith Erickson.

But if a complaint is received, Erickson said it would be handled the way all such complaints are.

"The city will look into it and take whatever action is necessary," he said.
...
Gridley also noted that on Oct. 6, the Knapps filed an LLC operating agreement with the state indicating that the Hitching Post is a "religious organization." He told the Knapps' attorney in the letter that if the Knapps are "truly operating a not-for-profit religious corporation" they would be specifically exempted from the city ordinance.

"Their lawsuit was something of a surprise because we have had cordial conversations with them in the past and they have never disclosed that they have recently become a religious corporation," Gridley wrote.
...
When contacted by The Press for comment, Don Knapp said the Hitching Post is not operating as a not-for-profit religious corporation. He also said he does not know ADF Attorney David Cortman.
FULL: Legal Hitch at Hitching Post [CDA Press]