The US Supreme Court held that a Colorado graphic designer who wanted to create wedding websites was not They must be created for same-sex marriages, in an important decision that aligns with LGBTQ non-discrimination interests and First Amendment freedoms.
In a 6-3 decision released Friday, The high court ruled in favor of artist Lorie Smith, who sued the state over its anti-discrimination law that prohibits businesses that provide sales or other accommodations to the public from denying service based on sexual a customer orientation.
Justice Neil Gorsuch authored the majority opinion, which said, “In this case, Colorado seeks to compel an individual to speak in ways that conform to his views but go against his conscience about something which is of great importance.”
“But, as this Court has long held, the opportunity to think for ourselves and to express those thoughts freely is among our most cherished liberties and part of what keeps our Republic strong. ,” Gorsuch continued.
“But tolerance, not coercion, is our Nation’s answer. The First Amendment sees the United States as a rich and complex place where all people are free to think and speak as they please, not as demanded. of the government. Because Colorado seeks to repudiate that promise, the judgment is reversed,” he concluded.
ARTIST AT THE CENTER OF THE SUPREME COURT FIGHTS ‘BREAKED’ BY COLORADO LAW THAT ENHANCES HIM ON SAME-SEX WEDDINGS
![Lorie Smith Supreme Court](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/10/640/320/Lorie-Smith-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative at center of Supreme Court free-speech case. (ADF)
COLORADO WEB DESIGNER ‘HORRIFIED,’ RECEIVED DEATH THREATS OVER SUPREME COURT FREE SPEECH CASE
Smith claims the law violated his First Amendment rights by forcing him to promote messages that violate his deeply held beliefs.
The case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, gained national attention because it highlighted the competing interests of the First Amendment right to free speech and non-discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
The law, known as the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), prohibits businesses that provide sales or services to the public from denying services to a person based on their identity. Supporters of CADA say the law is necessary to prevent discrimination by businesses.
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Smith has maintained throughout the case that he has no problem working with the LGBTQ community, not just for gay weddings.
![303 Creative owner Lorie Smith stands in front of the Colorado State Capitol.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/12/640/320/Lorie-Smith-Colorado-State-House.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1)
303 Creative owner Lorie Smith said she faced threats after challenging the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. (Credit: Alliance Defending Freedom)
“I think it’s important for people to understand that I love and welcome the opportunity to work with everyone. My case is never about choosing which client to work with, but about choosing the message that is asked of mine to promote,” Smith told Fox News Digital in a March 2022 interview.
Smith said he faced threats throughout his case.
“I put my home address on social media, I received a lot of threats — death threats, threats of bodily harm,” she said in December. “The security system at my home, my son’s school went on alert. I lost my business, my clients were harassed and my website… people were trying to hack it, almost regularly every time.”
![](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/10/640/320/Lorie-Smith-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Lorie Smith of 303 Creative (Credit: Alliance Defending Freedom )
SUPREME COURT HEARS FREE SPEECH ARGUMENTS IN COLORADO COMPANY REFUSED TO CREATE WEBSITES FOR GAY MARRIAGE
Despite this, Smith said he doesn’t regret going to court.
“The right to speak freely is guaranteed to all of us, and that is difficult at times,” he said. “While it has value, it deserves protection.”
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This is the second time that CADA is at the center of a Supreme Court case. In 2018, the bakery Masterpiece Cakeshop won a case in which owner Jack Phillips refused to design and make cakes specifically for gay weddings.
That case did not decide whether the law itself violated the First Amendment for free speech or religious reasons, because they believed the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had an anti-religious bias in enforcing the law against Phillips.