Author Topic: Gay Weddings Return to The Supreme Court  (Read 409 times)

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Offline Kamaji

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Gay Weddings Return to The Supreme Court
« on: June 06, 2022, 01:04:40 pm »
Gay Weddings Return to The Supreme Court

Can a web designer be compelled under the First Amendment to host wedding pictures?

SCOTT SHACKFORD
FROM THE JULY 2022 ISSUE of Reason Magazine

The debate over whether businesses can be forced to provide goods and services for gay weddings will return to the Supreme Court in an upcoming case.

In February, the Supreme Court agreed to hear 303 Creative v. Elenis. Lorie Smith owns and runs 303 Creative, a web design firm based in Colorado. Smith planned to design and host sites for weddings, but she has religious objections to same-sex marriage and does not want to be forced to design and host sites for LGBT couples. That puts her at odds with Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits "places of public accommodation" from discriminating against LGBT customers.

In her petition to the Supreme Court, Smith says she is not refusing to serve LGBT customers. Rather, she "cannot create websites that promote messages contrary to her faith, such as messages that condone violence or promote sexual immorality, abortion, or same-sex marriage."

Historically, the Supreme Court has limited the government's ability to compel a private business to transmit a message it finds objectionable. A book publisher, T-shirt printer, or social media platform generally cannot be forced to print or host messages that support or oppose any particular cause or policy.

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Source:  https://reason.com/2022/06/06/gay-weddings-return-to-the-supreme-court/