In response to the Supreme Court’s decision today in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, People For the American Way Foundation President Michael Keegan released the following statement:
“It’s
clear that the Religious Right was hoping for a decision that would
transform religious liberty from a shield to protect our individual
rights into a sword that would allow them to attack the rights of LGBTQ
people. That’s not what they got. This is a narrow decision focused on
the particular facts of the particular case.
“But
while the Court refused the invitation to create a new right to
discriminate, it also failed to take a clear stand against the
discrimination that millions of people still face, including the gay
couple in this case.
“The
simple truth is that everyone should be able to live their lives
without being afraid that they’ll be refused service because of who they
are or who they love. It’s time for our nation’s laws and courts to
catch up to the public in recognizing that basic principle.”
People For the American Way Foundation joined with seven other organizations in filing an amicus brief in this case, which noted that anti-discrimination laws protect, rather than impede, religious freedom.