If you are a Christian who believes in the marriage of two people in a loving relationship, and if you are a web designer or developer who creates work on websites that have a “traditionalist view of marriage”, you may find yourself in the middle of a hot case in the coming months.
The case is about a web designer who argues that his religious beliefs prevent him from creating works that can be sold to a gay or lesbian couple.
Christian web designer says religion prevents them from creating works for same-sex marriages
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The US Supreme Court is set to hear a case involving a Christian web designer who says religion prevents her from creating works for same-sex marriages.
While the conservative majority of the court seems to support Smith, others have warned that the ruling could be bad for the non-discrimination laws of the nation.
Lorie Smith, who runs a website design business in Denver, is arguing that she can’t make wedding websites for gay couples because of her religious beliefs.
She is also arguing that she has a First Amendment right to freedom of speech. In fact, she wants to post a statement on her company’s website explaining her reasons.
But the state of Colorado has a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It is called the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.
It states that no person or group of persons shall be discriminated against because of their gender, race, or religion.
Liberal justices denounce the firings of two gay men and a transgender woman from Georgia, New York and Michigan
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that gay people are protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This means that employers are now prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation.
The ruling is significant for two reasons. First, the Trump administration and employers opposed the law. Secondly, it provides the foundation for new protections for workers in federal law.
Monday’s decision came about through an unusual six-justice coalition. It was led by President Donald Trump’s first pick to the high court, Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the opinion.
Other members of the 6-3 majority included Justice Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas.
Gorsuch said that the law’s text is key to understanding the ruling. He also emphasized the fact that Congress would have been shocked by the outcome in 1964.
The court’s ruling is a good example of how the Trump administration is attempting to undermine civil rights protections.
Four million people live in states that do not offer equal protections to their LGBTQ+ citizens.
