Supreme Court rules in favor of graphic designer who refused to create gay marriage website

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of a Christian web design company that refused to design a website for same-sex marriage, the latest in a series of decisions that expands the reach of religion in everyday life.

The vote was 6-3, reflecting the Conservative-Liberal divide between judges.

The ruling overturned a lower court’s decision that Denver-area business owner Lorie Smith was denied an exemption from a Colorado law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“The protections of the First Amendment belong to everyone, not just speakers whose motives the government deems worthy,” Judge Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.

“In this case, Colorado is trying to force a person to speak in a manner consistent with their views, but defies its conscience on a matter of great importance.”

A person protests outside the Supreme Court Friday, June 30, 2023, as decisions are expected in Washington

Smith, the owner of 303 Creative, is an evangelical Christian who said she believes marriage can only exist between a man and a woman.

She sued the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and officials in 2016 because she feared being punished for refusing to serve same-sex marriages.

She insisted that she did not want to discriminate against anyone, but simply objected that she could not express her Christian beliefs.

And she argued that her websites counted as art and were protected by her constitutional right to free speech.

According to his majority, Gorsuch agreed. He said the First Amendment prohibited Colorado from “forcing a website designer to create expressive designs that express messages with which the designer disagrees.”

But during oral arguments, the court’s liberal judges said a ruling in her favor would encourage other companies to discriminate against certain customers.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the minority dissent. She said the statement was “profoundly wrong.”

People react outside the Supreme Court on Friday, June 30, 2023 in Washington, after the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that a Christian graphic artist seeking to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the case, reflecting the conservative-liberal division

“Today, for the first time in its history, the Court grants a public-access corporation the constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class,” she said as she read from the bench in a depiction of the depth of minority sentiment.

“Today is a sad day in US constitutional law and in the lives of LGBT people.”

Smith’s case was advocated by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a right-wing Christian group that has regularly filed lawsuits against gay and transgender rights.

Democrats were quick to condemn the ruling.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Refusing service based on who someone loves is just as bigoted and hateful as refusing service because of race or religion. And this is bigotry that the vast majority of Americans find completely unacceptable.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the ruling as ‘bigo intolerance’

The ruling is the latest to show conservatives flexing their muscles on the field.

In some cases, such as overturning Roe v Wade last year, they have ended what many legal experts considered established law.

It came a day after it scrapped universities’ use of affirmative action to improve diversity.

President Joe Biden denounced that ruling from what he said was now not a “normal court.”

And later on Friday, the court issued a ruling blocking President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt.

Nikki Haley, Republican nominee for the party’s 2024 nomination, welcomed the website’s decision.

“Unlike other countries, we do not force our citizens to express themselves in ways that conflict with their religious beliefs,” she said. “It’s called the First Amendment.

“I’m glad we have a Supreme Court that respects our Constitution.”