Highway Hotel

Listen to this story...

As the owners of a small hotel in New York, Thomas and Virginia Higgins wanted to run their business in a manner consistent with their Christian beliefs. But when an unmarried couple demanded that they be rented one hotel room, the Higgins’ convictions were put to the test.

The Higgins offered to rent two rooms instead, but the couple refused and filed a complaint with the New York Department of Human Services.

The idea of legal action must have been very intimidating to these small business owners, but they decided to remain firm in their religious values.

With the help of an ADF allied attorney, the complaint was withdrawn in 1997 and the legal rights of Mr. and Mrs. Higgins were protected. 

When the Higgins’ stood up for their beliefs they were able to turn one small incident into a big opportunity to do the right thing - and into a win for religious freedom.