SCOTUS to hear case on religious freedom, LGBTQ rights

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The US Supreme Court will hear the case of a Christian graphic designer who argues that her constitutional right to free speech and expression is violated by a Colordao anti-discrimination law that could force her to create websites for same-sex weddings against her religious convictions, Yahoo News reports.

The case is being brought against the state of Colorado by designer Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative LLC, Yahoo reports. Although Smith has never been approached to design a site for same-sex marriage, the matter centers on her desire to include a statement on her business website that she will not create wedding pages for same-sex couples because she believes that marriage is between one man and one woman.

Smith launched her suit in the federal district court in 2016, arguing that Colorado’s anti-discrimination law which bans businesses from denying services based on sexual orientation is a violation of her First Amendment rights to free speech and artistic expression, Yahoo reports.

Smith is appealing to the Supreme Court after both the district court and the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the state’s position.

The high court said upon agreeing to hear the matter that it will rule on “whether applying a public-accommodation law to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment.” Oral arguments are expected to be heard this fall.

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