St. Cloud Couple Files Federal Appeal in Wedding Video Case

ST. LOUIS, MO -- A St. Cloud video production company and its owners have filed their opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals in a lawsuit against Minnesota state officials who say the couple can't only shoot wedding videos for heterosexual couples.

Carl and Angel Larsen with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom filed the brief Friday.

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.

A federal judge has dismissed a legal challenge by the couple in September and dismissed the lawsuit, prompting the appeal to the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

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.