A federal judge ordered the city of East Lansing to pay $825,000 for violating an apple farmer’s right to free speech and freedom of religion because of his opposition to marriage equality. The settlement includes $41,000 in damages to the farmer and more than $783,000 in attorneys’ fees. Country Mill Farms owner Stephen Tennes sued the city after it excluded him from the farmers market because he refused to host same-sex wedding ceremonies at his farm. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Maloney ruled in August that East Lansing's actions against Country Mill Farms constituted a violation of the free exercise clause. Alliance Defending Freedom represented Tennes and said he would be able to continue running his farm based on his religious beliefs. #Queer Up Courts