Clinton Brentwood Lee's Brazilliant Response To Client Who Fired Him Over His Support For Marriage Equality

Ready for another story about what’s happened in the aftermath of that Supreme Court Ruling? Okay, here goes …

After the ruling, Clinton Brentwood Lee of Brentwood Photography in Saint Petersburg, Florida took to Facebook to show his support for the decision, changing his profile picture and cover photo, but his support for that sliver of equality to The Gays — we can still be fired or denied housing in many places in this country just for being gay — cost him a client.

Lee says that client contacted him to say that they would no longer be “using [his] services” for their upcoming wedding:

“My fiancé and I support traditional marriage between a man and a woman and don’t want to our money going to places that supports otherwise [sic].”

Lee shared a screenshot of the exchange on Facebook, along with the caption:

“Lost a client for supporting gay marriage. But that's ok! We love everyone, even this now former client who may not have liked our reply. Lol.”

But here’s his full response to that client:

Wow, I’m not really sure what to say here. I would say this disappoints me, but I actually find this to be a good thing because our company now would now not like to work with you as well.

It’s not that because you have a different view from us, but it’s because, since you don’t like and support gay marriage, no one else should be able to have it. That’s like me not liking broccoli, and demanding that everyone else in the world should not have broccoli either! If you’re not in favor of gay marriage that’s fine, don’t marry a woman.

Personally, I was taught not to judge others and to love everyone else. So I will try not to judge you here and say anything more as to my opinion of you.

At Brentwood Photography we see love in all forms. Now as far as your retainer goes, I hope you’ll read the first article in the contract you signed stating that this retainer is nonrefundable.

But don’t you worry, I’m not going to keep it!

Because of this conversation, I have decided to donate your $1500 to GLAAD [the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation], a group created to help and support gay rights.

So let me be the first to say [the client’s name was redacted], thank you very much for your donation and support for this great cause!

I couldn’t have done it without your money.

Sincerely and with Love,

Brentwood Photography

See, that’s what I mean about the bigots and the haters. Let me know your true feelings and I will avoid your business and be thankful that you avoid mine.

PS Lee's Facebook post now has over 58K likes, and he says that 90% of the responses have been positive, although he has gotten some hate mail as well. Here’s his page: Brentwood Photography.

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