This morning the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. While the decision reversed the original ruling by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, it did so on grounds that were unique to Masterpiece Cakeshop and this case, finding that the Commission had not acted impartially when originally considering the case. As such, this ruling applies only to Masterpiece Cakeshop, but does NOT broadly allow similar businesses to discriminate. The Court did not grant businesses a license to discriminate. Rather, the court affirmed that states can protect LGBT people from discrimination in the marketplace.
However, it’s important to realize that today’s decision does not fully address the discrimination that millions of Americans still face. In more than half the country, our state laws do not explicitly protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination in stores and restaurants, in the workplace, or in housing. And while today’s decision ensures that the 40% of our states that do protect LGBT people can continue to do so, 60% of our states still lack even basic protections.
The beauty of our differences has historically shaped our country and now provides extraordinary possibilities for a new future that has as its cornerstone love, respect, tolerance, acceptance and appreciation for the rainbow that is humanity. As a nation, we must choose to lead with love going forward and do the difficult work to eradicate discrimination.
LGBT community centers have been on the frontlines fighting discrimination for decades, and our efforts must continue until all Americans are protected from discrimination in their daily lives.
As a nation, we decided a long time ago that when a business opens its doors to the public, it should serve everyone on the same terms. Learn more about today's decision and add your voice to the Open To All Campaign.
