WASHINGTON, DC: The Supreme Court has upheld a Christian graphic's designers right to refuse to design a website for a same-sex wedding in California. The court cited the protection of free speech under the First Amendment.
The designer's arguments were based on deeply-rooted religious convictions as the designer firmly believes in the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman. The ruling, with a six-three majority upheld the designer's right to refuse to design same-sex marriage websites.
Who is Lori Smith?
Lorie Smith, the owner of 303 Creative, a web design business in the Denver area, has become a key figure in a landmark Supreme Court case that addresses the delicate balance between religious freedom and LGBTQ rights in the United States. Smith, an evangelical Christian, initiated the legal battle in 2016 by suing Colorado's civil rights commission and officials, challenging a state law that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Smith's case revolved around the assertion that her web designs constituted an artistic expression protected by her constitutional right to free speech. The Supreme Court concurred, ruling that Colorado could not force her to create designs that conveyed messages contrary to her beliefs.
'First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place'
"The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands," Justice Neil Gorsuch eloquently stated, as per Daily Mail. "In this case, Colorado seeks to force an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance."
'I'm deeply concerned'
President Joe Biden, however, said in a statement released by the White House that the ruling was "disappointing." He shared, "I'm deeply concerned that the decision could invite more discrimination against LGBTQI+ Americans." He added, "More broadly, today’s decision weakens long-standing laws that protect all Americans against discrimination in public accommodations – including people of color, people with disabilities, people of faith, and women."
When the court decided in a related case in 2018 in favor of a Christian baker, also from Colorado, who reportedly refused to produce a wedding cake for a homosexual couple, it provided the court a second chance to address a legal issue that it had previously discussed but never resolved.
The same ruling was issued before
Because there was evidence of anti-religious bias, the court decided that Jack Phillips, a baker, did not get a fair hearing before the state Civil Rights Commission. In court documents, state officials said they had never looked into Smith and had no proof that anybody had ever requested her to make a website for a same-sex wedding. The ability of all persons to access products and services is safeguarded by public accommodations regulations, according to Colorado Solicitor General Eric Olson, CNBC reported.
