A Right-Wing Activist is Suing U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer for $1 Because He Flies the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag Outside His Office

Chris Sevier, who has sued for the "right" to marry his laptop in an attempt to quash same-sex marriage protections, calls homosexuality a "religion" in his suit.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer and his Pride flag. (Courtesy of Rep.Earl Blumenauer)

A right-wing activist  prone to filing absurd lawsuits in an attempt to quash same-sex marriage protections has sued U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) because the congressman flies the iconic LGBTQ pride flag outside his congressional office in Washington, D.C.

"I fly this flag because I want everyone—no matter their gender, sexual orientation, race, immigration status—to feel safe and welcome in my office," Blumenauer said in a statement on the lawsuit.

Chris Sevier, who has sued for the "right" to marry his laptop in several states in an attempt to make an unintelligible political statement about same-sex marriage, is asking for exactly $1 in monetary damages in his suit that claims homosexuality is a "religion." Thus, Sevier's argument goes, flying the rainbow flag in a Congressional hallway violates his rights to freedom of religion and to separation of church and state.

He would more comfortable, his lawsuit says, if Blumenauer just moved the flag into the confines of his Congressional office.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that marriage between a man and a woman is the "only form of marriage that actually serves a secular purpose."

Blumenauer strongly disagrees. He will continue to fly the flag in the hallway next to the American flag, the Oregon flag, and an "In Our America" flag made by a local Portland organization called Nasty Women Get Shit Done.

"Sadly, we've seen a rise in hateful rhetoric since the election of Donald Trump," Blumenauer said. "It is more important than ever that we stand up to bigotry and hate of any kind. Nothing is going to stop me from fighting for equality, justice, and peace."

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