Designer who refused to sell a same-sex couple a wedding jumpsuit loses appeal, owes $25,000
Galbraith, the designer, tried dodging state jurisdiction by arguing that the discrimination occurred in Missouri, where the woman resided
For most brides, finding the right outfit is straightforward: you spot the design, send an email, and pay the invoice. But when a Missouri woman reached out to New York City boutique D. Auxilly NYC LLC to buy a bridal jumpsuit her fiancée loved, the exchange took a sharp turn. The owner, Galbraith, replied saying she wouldn’t make the piece for a same-sex wedding. She cited her religious beliefs and urged the couple to reconsider getting married. Refusing to let this slide, the bride filed a discrimination complaint in New York. On October 22, a New York appeals court upheld the penalties against her business, as reported by LGBTQ Nation on October 29, 2026.
An ad sparks an order
The dispute began online when the woman came across a digital promotion for an off-the-rack bridal jumpsuit. It was designed by Galbraith, the founder of Manhattan-based D. Auxilly NYC LLC. Her fiancée fell head over heels for the piece. Hoping to secure the outfit for their ceremony, the shopper emailed Galbraith directly to confirm the purchase. They wanted to sort out the payment options. During their initial email back-and-forth, the customer offhandedly mentioned that her partner was another woman. This sparked an unexpected response from the New York designer.
An unexpected refusal arrives
The response from Galbraith was hostile. She straight-up refused to sell them the piece. In part of her email, she wrote that she "wouldn’t be able to make a piece for a same-sex wedding," because "[I]t goes against my faith in Christ." She further told the couple to reconsider their feelings and their marriage. "[...]I know you both love each other and that this feels right, but I encourage you both to reconsider..." she wrote.
Filing a formal complaint
Unwilling to quietly accept the rejection, the bride filed a formal discrimination complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights. New York's accommodations law strictly outlaws turning away patrons based on sexual orientation. In response, Galbraith claimed her religious convictions gave her the right to decline service. She insisted that she had no animus toward gay people generally, only their weddings. However, the Division rejected that argument. On appeal, the court agreed: ‘same-sex marriage is inextricably tied to sexual orientation.’
The defenses fall flat
Galbraith also attempted to dodge state jurisdiction by arguing that the discrimination occurred in Missouri, where the woman resided. The regulatory division dismissed that claim as well. The Division noted the business markets its clothes as ‘made in New York,’ and the sale and the work would have happened there. While conservative vendors in high-profile battles like 303 Creative avoided penalties by citing custom artistic speech, the appeals court said she was not asked to design anything custom, and was withholding an existing design the business had already marketed.
State Appellate judges agree
After being hit with a $20,000 civil penalty alongside a $5,000 emotional damages order payable to the customer, the Division asked a court to enforce its order. On October 22, a five-judge appeals panel unanimously upheld it. A five-judge panel from the New York State Appellate Division backed the human rights division on every point. They cemented the financial penalties and confirmed that boutique owners cannot cite personal faith to deny off-the-rack wedding attire to queer couples. Since then, Galbraith has shared several posts on Instagram regarding the issue.
Hurdles for same-sex couples
This entire incident sheds light on the hurdles that LGBTQ couples face while getting married. According to an Equality Institute report, 44% of same-sex couples were afraid of vendor rejection because of their sexual orientation. This number spikes to 61% when talking about transgender or non-binary couples. Out of these, a striking 20% of couples went on to actually face rejection or negativity. Meanwhile, 4% were unsure. That is why 55% of the couples look for LGBTQ-specific resources.
It doesn't even make sense as a business idea
As for the people, they were baffled by Galbraith's business scheme and took to Reddit to vent. u/Extension-Stage-605 questioned, "If I were the business, I would want the sale... If they want to run their business according to 'morals.'" While u/Ok_Aioli3897 commented, "Good, and why don't these people realize how much money they will be out. They lose the LGBT market and their allies."
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