World
US Supreme Court takes up case of graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gays
WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court is hearing the case Monday of a Christian graphic artist who opposes the design of a wedding website for gay couples, a dispute that is the latest religious conflict and gay rights. be taken to the Supreme Court.
The designer and her supporters say the ruling against her will force artists – from painters and photographers to writers and musicians – to do work that is contrary to their faith. Meanwhile, her opponents say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, couples or immigrants of different races or creeds.
The case comes at a time when the court is dominated by conservatives 6-3 and follows a series of cases in which judges sided with religious plaintiffs. It also comes as, facing the court, lawmakers in Congress are finalizing a landmark bill protecting same-sex marriage.
The bill, which also protects interracial marriage, has gradually gained momentum following a high court decision earlier this year to end constitutional protections against abortion. The decision to overturn Roe v. That 1973 Wade raised questions about whether the court – now more conservative – could also overturn a 2015 decision declaring same-sex marriage rights nationwide. Justice Clarence Thomas made it clear that decision should also be reviewed.
The case is being argued before the supreme court on Monday regarding Lorie Smith, a graphic artist and website designer in Colorado wants to start offering wedding websites. Smith said her Christian faith prevents her from creating websites celebrating same-sex marriage. But that could get her in trouble with state law. Colorado, like most other states, has so-called public accommodation laws that state that if Smith makes wedding sites available to the public, she must make them available to all guests. Businesses that break the law can be fined, among other things.
Five years ago, the Supreme Court heard another challenge involving Colorado law and a baker, Jack Phillips, who opposed designing a wedding cake for a gay couple. However, that case ended with a limited decision and established the return of the matter to the high court. Phillips‘ lawyer, Kristen Wagoner of the Alliance for the Defense of Freedom, currently representing Smith.
Like Phillips, Smith says her objection is not to work with gay people. She said she would be working with a gay client who needed help with graphics for an animal shelter, for example, or to promote an organization that serves children with disabilities. But she opposes creating messages that support same-sex marriage, she said, just as she would not take jobs that require her to create content promoting atheism or gambling or support abortion.
Smith says Colorado’s law violates her right to free speech. Her opponents, including Biden The government and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Foundation, disagree.
Twenty predominantly liberal states, including California and New York, are backing Colorado while another 20 predominantly Republican states, including Arizona, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, are backing Smith .
The designer and her supporters say the ruling against her will force artists – from painters and photographers to writers and musicians – to do work that is contrary to their faith. Meanwhile, her opponents say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, couples or immigrants of different races or creeds.
The case comes at a time when the court is dominated by conservatives 6-3 and follows a series of cases in which judges sided with religious plaintiffs. It also comes as, facing the court, lawmakers in Congress are finalizing a landmark bill protecting same-sex marriage.
The bill, which also protects interracial marriage, has gradually gained momentum following a high court decision earlier this year to end constitutional protections against abortion. The decision to overturn Roe v. That 1973 Wade raised questions about whether the court – now more conservative – could also overturn a 2015 decision declaring same-sex marriage rights nationwide. Justice Clarence Thomas made it clear that decision should also be reviewed.
The case is being argued before the supreme court on Monday regarding Lorie Smith, a graphic artist and website designer in Colorado wants to start offering wedding websites. Smith said her Christian faith prevents her from creating websites celebrating same-sex marriage. But that could get her in trouble with state law. Colorado, like most other states, has so-called public accommodation laws that state that if Smith makes wedding sites available to the public, she must make them available to all guests. Businesses that break the law can be fined, among other things.
Five years ago, the Supreme Court heard another challenge involving Colorado law and a baker, Jack Phillips, who opposed designing a wedding cake for a gay couple. However, that case ended with a limited decision and established the return of the matter to the high court. Phillips‘ lawyer, Kristen Wagoner of the Alliance for the Defense of Freedom, currently representing Smith.
Like Phillips, Smith says her objection is not to work with gay people. She said she would be working with a gay client who needed help with graphics for an animal shelter, for example, or to promote an organization that serves children with disabilities. But she opposes creating messages that support same-sex marriage, she said, just as she would not take jobs that require her to create content promoting atheism or gambling or support abortion.
Smith says Colorado’s law violates her right to free speech. Her opponents, including Biden The government and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Foundation, disagree.
Twenty predominantly liberal states, including California and New York, are backing Colorado while another 20 predominantly Republican states, including Arizona, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, are backing Smith .
