St. Cloud Video Production Company Challenging Minnesota Human Rights Act

MINNEAPOLIS -- A St. Cloud video production company and its owners have filed a federal lawsuit against Minnesota state officials challenging a state law included in the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Carl and Angel Larsen with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom filed suit in U.S. District Court Tuesday.

The Larsens are challenging the law which forces them to use their filmmaking company Telescope Media Group to promote same-sex marriages if they produce films celebrating marriage between one man and one woman. ADF attorney Caleb Dalton says it's an unjust law...

Challenging unjust laws is a hallmark of civil rights history.  And the Larsens like every American, and especially every artist should remain free to peacefully live and work according to their faith without fear of punishment from the government.

The Larsen's suit is known as a "pre-enforcement challenge," which allows citizens to challenge a law that threatens their rights before the government enforces it against them.

According to Alliance Defending Freedom, the penalties for violating the law include payment of a civil penalty to the state; triple compensatory damages; punitive damages of up to $25,000; a criminal penalty of up to $1,000; and even up to 90 days in jail.