Dec. 3, 2022, 1:00 PM UTCWASHINGTON — To Lorie Smith, her lawsuit is a free speech crusade. To her opponents, it's an effort to weaken laws aimed at combating LGBTQ discrimination.
Her case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where she is asking the justices to decide in a case being argued on Monday that she cannot be punished under Colorado's anti-discrimination law for refusing to design websites for same-sex weddings. Smith argues that, as a creative professional, she has a free speech right under the Constitution's First Amendment to refuse to undertake work that conflicts with her own views.
Smith, whose business is called 303 Creative, said in an interview she has always been drawn to creative projects but also has strongly held beliefs that “marriage is between one man and one woman —and that union is significant.” The case gives the Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority, a second bite at a legal question it considered but never resolved when it ruled in a similar case in 2018 in favor of a Christian baker, also from Colorado, who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The court ruled then that the baker, Jack Phillips, did not receive a fair hearing before the Colorado civil rights commission because there was evidence of anti-religious bias.
“If the court grants an exemption for what is deemed artistic and creative the court has blown a big hole in our anti-discrimination principles,” said Louise Melling, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union. Such a ruling could have knock-on effects on other areas such as health care, education and employment, she added.
"Allowing a business to refuse service because of who these customers are would break from this tradition and deny them full participation in the marketplace," he said.
Blast her and boycott her out of business. Works both ways lady.
Why would any couple use this business if the owner is against your marriage? What kind of wedding would she plan? Use someone else. ❤️🌈.
Just like Christ said, 'fuck everyone else, judge 'em all like you're a God or some shit'.
Girl you better stand up against that rhetoric
Huh
This makes no sense, I own a business, everyone's money is green. I did business today with a guy proudly wearing a MAGA hat signed by DT. I still took his money and I'm still gonna spend it!
In the beginning nobody cared what your sex preference was but now they‘ve pushed the envelope so far that LGBQT, whatever the hell it is in the alphabet are a disgrace. Why don’t they ever spell out what each initial means? Because they know they have psychological disorders.
Can the local bakery refuse to sell to overweight blonde women? Gluttony is a sin. See how ridiculous that all is. Or, no more drive through burgers and fries for her obese self, gluttony is a sin in the bible. People are created equal, treat your customers as such!
I wouldn't give her my business. Don't want to support a known homophobic bigot!
Imagine having absolutely no self awareness ...
Since when does the Supreme Court take hypotheticals. Doesn't there have to be an actual case? Not a maybe what if. There had to be a Roe for roe v Wade. I can't just be anybody nobody v the US government. She's just pissed no gays want to hire her.
This one is super easy, too bad for the Colorado business owner narrowing down customer reach through unprogressive criteria, an advantage for your progressive competition where customer needs and satisfaction are the only focus of the transaction.
I would like to reject business from heterosexual couples.
What's the exact name of her business, so couples who are not hateful homophobic jerks can avoid it? Hoping for bankruptcy soon.
They will keep riding that “religious freedom” horse until it keels over.
She’s loud and proud of her discrimination shielded in free speech. No LGBTQ+ person wants to give her little business money. She’s preparing for when one of us sues her for discrimination. She’s creating the platform for others to twist laws because we could “cancel” them.
Are we all supposed to go along with the woke crowd, despite one's religious beliefs?
People can't mind their own business
Wait, I thought the cake and pizza cases already established her right to refuse service to any customers for any/no reason?
Hey are you going to report the HUNTER BIDEN STORY? 😠
Nothing about the collusion between big tech and the Biden Admin to cover up the Hunter Biden story?
Hey scones cant you learn calling same sex relations same sex relations? Marriage is thousands of years institution,if anyone would made law containing 'marriage' in relation of same sex will be treated like dumb,by international LEGALITY people. Give up threaten heterosexual!
Man and woman.. man and man.. woman and woman.. who cares about what combo it is. Just let them all be happy. Let them get married what's the big deal ? And if a business won't take you.. just go to another one I'm positive their are tons of them that will do it and maybe better.
Why can’t this person run her business how she wants? The natural consequence is that she may go out of business for her bigotry. If not, we’ll, we have bigger issues.
Does evangelical Christian mean fake Christian?
Good! She has a right to conduct her business as she sees fit, not how the toxic left does.
Odd considering she’s obviously a man.
Hope she wins. She should have the right to decide whether or not she wants to serve people who openly engage in it immoral lifestyle.
I don’t get it. What are the chances a same sex couple is going to ask her to design a website for a wedding? The fact she’s rejecting it only for the chance encounter is a shame.
Imagine being that bigoted that you’re willing to pay six figures in lawyer fees!! Haha oh wait?! You’re just a piece of white trash and now have a lawyer that befriended you?! Hahah being a bigot is still powerful in 2022
She must be doing real well not accepting clients for a task any jabroni can do for free on the internet
SCOTUS will rule I her favor. SCOTUS is tearing down rights left & rights. Same sex couple & LBGTQ deserve the same rights as heterosexuals. They pay taxes so they deserve same rights. If America & SCOTUS won’t protect LBGTQ Americans then LBGTQ shouldn’t be forced to pay taxes.
I don’t want to make websites for fat women who think God tells them to hate. Can I take that to the Supreme Court too?
Why haven't you reported about the evidence regarding the Biden administration colluding with big tech to subvert a election? That's a crime.
I refuse to rent to them. My property my choice.
same energy
She must live in Boobart area.
no business licensed by a city or state should have the right to deny services to a citizen, take your religion and hate and go away
It's a private business. She can do what she wants. Gay people, there are plenty of gay owned bakeries. Go to them . I'm sure they would appreciate it. But no, you'd rather cause a scene and try to get rich by destroying someone else
Go ahead open the door! Christian beliefs have been used to justify all types of vile behavior, from segregation to prohibiting inter-racial marriage. Next up, discrimination against Jews, Catholics, Muslims, atheists, unmarried couples, etc. Hate where we are headed!
Guess she skipped the part about gluttony in her religion.
Based on the Left this should be okay right?
Poor Karen….sounds like someone needs to” Get Laid”….
If a buisiness facilitates same sex marriages but turns away opposite sex couples would that garner outrage or be a woke progressive business model?
She even looks like a Karen
Precursor to cases where businesses claim a right to refuse service to blacks, hispanics, jews, etc. for 'religious' reasons.
The part I don’t understand is NO ONE has approached her to do so. She’s just wanting to cause a scene and create drama.
Private business so just like vax mandates, none of anyone’s business what she does.
Good for her 👍🏽. Why would gays even want to go to her? It’s a win/win
I’m sure our absolutely corrupted SCOTUS will rule in favor of this hateful “Christian” shrew.
LGBPT is not welcome. It's time they understand that.
She has every right not to associate herself with child groomers
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