Ruling in 303 Creative defies decades of settled law – and contradicts the 80% of the public who support protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination.
Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, a case about whether a business that is open to the public can be granted an unprecedented “free speech” exemption from state nondiscrimination law in order to turn away customers they would rather not serve. In its ruling, the Court invented a “free speech” exemption to Colorado’s public accommodations nondiscrimination law.
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, said today:
“This is a precedent-defying ruling that comes on the heels of the worst-ever legislative session for LGBTQ+ Americans, during which dozens of discriminatory laws were passed. There is a coordinated, extremist attack on the dignity and equality of LGBTQ+ people happening in every sphere of our democracy – from the courts to state legislatures to local school boards, and this U.S. Supreme Court ruling is part of that extremist agenda. Let’s call this what it is: a crisis for the LGBTQ+ community. ”
“Yet the undeniable reality on the ground is that a definitive and growing majority of Americans support LGBTQ+ equality and know and love someone who is LGBTQ+; a majority of people in every single Southern state support LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination laws. Now more than ever, we must activate that supermajority support and harness it to push back in this moment of crisis. We must never allow this Supreme Court decision to be used to open the door to further discrimination. We must rise above the relentless attacks on humanity for LGBTQ+ people and our families. As we head into the 2024 election cycle, we need all hands on deck.”
