The Supreme Court’s ruling in case 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis delivered a blow to LGBTQ+ rights, allowing Christian graphic artist Lorie Smith to refuse service to same-sex couples seeking wedding websites.
Despite Colorado’s anti-discrimination law, which prohibits bias based on sexual orientation, race, gender, and other protected characteristics, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of the designer.
Smith, who owns the design business 303 Creative, had argued that the Colorado law violated her First Amendment rights. Critics of her position raised concerns that a victory for her would set a dangerous precedent, enabling businesses to discriminate against various groups, including racial and religious minorities, interracial couples, individuals with disabilities, and immigrants.
Writing on behalf of the conservative justices, Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasized that the First Amendment envisions a diverse and free-thinking United States, where individuals can express their thoughts without government interference.
The decision drew strong dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, highlighting that it marks the first time in the court’s history that it grants a business open to the public the constitutional right to refuse service to members of a protected class. Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Sotomayor in dissent.
This case brings attention to the ongoing conflict between safeguarding religious freedom and upholding anti-discrimination measures, and its repercussions are expected to extend well into the future.