US Supreme Court to hear case of web designer who objects to gay marriage
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear the case of a Colorado web designer who fears prosecution under state anti-discrimination law for stating her faith-based objections to providing services that promote same-sex marriage.
The court agreed Feb. 22 to consider “Whether applying a public-accommodation law to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment.”
It will not take up the question of whether Colorado's anti-discrimination law violates the designer's free exercise of religion. The case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, will be heard during the court's next term, which begins in October.
“I love creating custom websites and graphics and working with individuals and small businesses to help them solve their challenges, promote their events, and market their products and services. Like any commissioned artist and speaker, I love using my talents to shape messages for my clients—provided those messages don’t violate my values,” Lorie Smith, the owner of design studio 303 Creative, told reporters Feb. 22.
“I have clients ranging from individuals to small business owners to non-profit agencies. I have served and continue to serve all people, including those who identify as LGBT. But like all artists, there are some messages that I can’t pour my heart, imagination, and talents into creating because they violate my core convictions.”
Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.
More at: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250460/us-supreme-court-to-hear-case-of-web-designer-who-objects-to-gay-marriage