U.S. Supreme Court leans toward web designer with anti-gay marriage stance

American constitutional lawyerWASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled sympathy on Monday toward an evangelical Christian web designer whose business refuses to provide services for same-sex marriages in a major case pitting LGBT rights against a claim that freedom of speech exempts artists from anti-discrimination laws.

Smith, 38, has said she believes marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples, a view shared by many conservative Christians. She preemptively sued Colorado's civil rights commission and other state officials in 2016 because she feared she would be punished for refusing to serve gay weddings. Colorado Solicitor General Eric Olson said Smith is seeking a "license to discriminate." Olson said her arguments would not just let a business owner decline to provide services because of a sincerely held religious belief but also due to "all sorts of racist, sexist and bigoted views." Olson said the Colorado public accommodation law at issue targets the conduct of discriminatory sales by businesses like Smith's.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas pressed Olsen on what historical precedent there was for allowing speech to be directly or indirectly regulated by public accommodation laws, saying that "this is not a hotel, this is not a restaurant, this is not a riverboat or train." Waggoner said that Smith "believes opposite-sex marriage honors scripture and same-sex marriage contradicts it. If the government can label this speech equivalent, it can do so for any speech, whether religious or political. Under Colorado's theory, jurisdictions could force a Democrat publicist to write a Republican's press release."

We see Yahoo's bias/worldview when they view the argument as an 'anti-gay marriage' stance rather than a question of religious liberty/expression.

Freedom of religion. Government cannot force people to work for homosexuals. That’s slavery.

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Supreme Court to decide if a Christian business owner can turn away gay weddingsJustices hear arguments Monday in the case of a Christian business owner claiming a free-speech right to turn away same-sex couples planning to marry. Christians such as these should hope that the winds of discrimination doesn’t blow on them. Christian shari law is coming She has rights too! DemocRATs want everyone to be Gay
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »

Supreme Court leans in favor of a Christian website's right to turn away gay weddingsThe Supreme Court’s conservative majority sounded Monday ready to rule that a Christian website designer has a free-speech right to refuse to work with same-sex couples planning to marry. Read the latest at Yeah, but I’ll bet Susan Collins isn’t “deeply troubled”. America lives to fight another day. SCOTUS creating a safe space for haters
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »

Clarence Thomas accuser Anita Hill recalls Supreme Court scandal as 'surreal'Anita Hill recalled her testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee as she accused then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment as “surreal,” pointing to the lack of precedence at the time as a daunting experience. Bought and paid by the DNC Anita was surreal, indeed Anita Hill recalls Supreme Court case as “surreal”? How about “not real”?
Source: dcexaminer - 🏆 6. / 94 Read more »

Opinion | Supreme Court Case 303 Creative Is About Power, Not Religious LibertyTogether we can work toward combating Christian nationalism and continue striving for a more inclusive America—with or without the Supreme Court of the United States. 303 needs to go 404
Source: commondreams - 🏆 530. / 51 Read more »

California supreme court tosses gang murder conspiracy caseThe California Supreme Court on Thursday threw out the conspiracy-to-murder conviction of a gang member who used social media to applaud the killing of rivals during a San Diego gang war. YES!!! Let all violent gang members out of jail on random technicalities. Way to go CA! OMG…..
Source: KTVU - 🏆 465. / 53 Read more »