News 6/30/23

303 Creative, LLC v. Elenis Opinion ATTACKS LGBTQ+ RIGHTS!

Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an opinion on 303 Creative, LLC v. Elenis. Their opinion (6-3) overturns previous rulings by other federal courts. It also shows that SCOTUS is taking a stand against LGBTQ+ rights.

In this case, 303 Creative – a website design company in Colorado – publicly said that they would defy Colorado’s LGBTQ+ inclusive non-discrimination law. As many people are aware, no one has ever asked the owner of this company to make a wedding website. Despite what she has claimed, a LGBTQ+ couple has never restricted her free speech.

This case was never about protecting free speech. This case was all about stirring up anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit had already affirmed that Colorado’s law does not violate this person’s right to free speech. By ruling against Colorado’s law, SCOTUS has increased the growing threat to LGBTQ+ rights. Their decision will encourage even more anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.

We will continue to provide updates on this case and its impact on LGBTQ+ rights. If you would like to make your voice heard, you can:

• Plan or attend a demonstration;
• Contact your elected officials in the Ohio Legislature to tell them that you support LGBTQ+ non-discrimination laws like the Ohio Fairness Act; and
• Connect with us on social media for updates.

Equitas Health has been fighting alongside the LGBTQ+ community since 1984. We joined the fight in the earliest days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and we will not be silent in the face of injustice now.

To learn more about LGBTQ+ inclusive non-discrimination protections across the country, click here.

To hear the LGBT Bar of New York’s podcast episode about this case, click here.

To contact the Lambda Legal Help Desk for general legal info and resources about anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, click here.

To support Equitas Health – including our continued advocacy work – with a donation click here.