LGBTQ-Friendly Photographer has Perfect Response to Haters

Photographer puts couples non-refundable deposit to good use.

The weekend was awash in pride for many, as the US Supreme Court finally granted marriage equality to same-sex couples. But not everyone was flying their rainbow flags at the landmark victory.

When photographer Clinton Brentwood Lee posted an image of a gay couple kissing under the heading "All we see is love" to show his support, clients whose wedding Brentwood Lee was due to shoot demanded their deposit back because they supported only "traditional marriage."

In his predicament, other businesses may have offered pat apologies for causing "offence." Not Brentwood Lee:

Wow, I’m not really sure what to say here," he responded on his Facebook page. "I would say this disappoints me, but I actually find this to be a good thing because our company now would 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 an 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 $1,500 to GLAD [sic] [the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation], a group created to help and support gay rights.

So let me be the first to say [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

Business is increasingly a two-way street; it's not all about pleasing the client at any cost. It's about mutual respect. While mixing business and politics may seem ill advised, sometimes politics get in the way of said respect. Kudos to Brentwood for not refusing to swallow his pride for the sake of a business deal.