EAST LANSING, MI — The case of a Michigan farmer who was not allowed to sell products at a farmers’ market because of his stance on gay marriage, will be headed to a federal trial after he filed a lawsuit against the city.

Apple orchard owner Steve Tennes sued the city of East Lansing after he was not allowed to participate at the city's farmers market because he doesn't allow gay couples to marry at his orchard, the Associated Press reports.

Tennes' claims that his business, Country Mill Farms, was unconstitutionally ousted from the farmer's market. A self-proclaimed devout Catholic, Tennes does not allow same-sex weddings to take place on his privately-owned farm in Charlotte, about 20 miles from East Lansing.

Tennes had been selling at the market since 2010 when he was denied a vendor's licence in 2017. City officials cited Tennes' Facebook post explaining that his family's religious beliefs prevented them from hosting same-sex weddings at the business.

Officials had modified the city-run market's rules to require vendors to comply with East Lansing's civil rights ordinance, which prohibits discrimination.

U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney set the trial date for Sept. 14 after issuing an order last month that partially denied and partially granted requests for summary judgement from both sides, according to AP.

The judge went on to note that the city ordinance "regulates speech based on the intent of the speaker, without consideration of any actual consequences."

A pretrial conference is scheduled for August.

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