The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled in favor of two Christian business owners who pre-emptively sued the city of Phoenix so they wouldn’t have to abide by its requirement to provide services for a same-sex wedding. And though the court’s ruling was narrow, it’s still troubling.
In 2016, the “devout Christian” owners of Brush & Nib — an Arizona-based business that makes hand-written calligraphic invitations and signs — sued the city of Phoenix because the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance allegedly violated the company’s freedom of speech (ie. their right to refuse service to same-sex couples).
Related: Trump tells Supreme Court anti-gay discrimination should be legal for this idiotic reason
Brush & Nib’s co-owners Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski sued to overturn the city’s civil rights law before any complaints could be filed against them. According to LGBTQ Nation, “The owners also wanted to post a sign saying that they refuse to serve same-sex couples.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
LGBTQ Nation reports:
“Last year, a state court of appeals ruled that Phoenix’s anti-discrimination ordinance does not violate anyone’s free speech, since it advances a legitimate government interest by prohibiting conduct, not speech. The court also rejected the store’s religious freedom argument….
The state Supreme Court, dominated by social conservatives appointed by a far-right Republican governor, disagreed in today’s ruling. The court rejected that logic, ruling that the owner’s beliefs entitle them to an exemption from civil rights law.
In its decision, the court wrote, “Our holding today is limited to Plaintiffs’ creation of one product: custom wedding invitations.” As such, the ruling doesn’t apply to all businesses in Arizona, but it’s not hard to see how it could.
After all, antigay Christians owners of wedding-related businesses — bakeries, florists, videographers, wedding dress makers — have piped up around the nation stating that their religious beliefs compel them not to serve same-sex couples.
So really, what’s the difference between these businesses and Brush and Nib? Little to nothing. And if these business fight for their right to discriminate against same-sex couples, Arizona’s Supreme Court seems prepared to give them permission.
Cam
Waiting for all of the anti-LGBT right wing troll accounts to come in here and start screaming about Iran and Muslims.
Sorry folks, these are right wing Christians and their courts that want to legally bar LGBT people from being able to hold jobs, to buy products, and to hire services.
This is extreme bigotry.
DylanBarnes1647
Waiting for all of the anti-LGBT right wing tr….- Absolutely agree with you But i am here not only to discuss this article but I would like to share with you new but really great site for gay singles only. It is still private, but you can find it easy. Use the most famous search engine to find it: “VqASormKwkM35fugu6lu9775371” .
MarcusGreen1381
Waiting for all of the anti-LGBT right wing tr….- Nothing to add But i am here not only to discuss this article but I would like to share with you new but really great website for gay singles only. It is still private, but you can find it easy. Use the most famous search engine to find it: “QWReEvEeJ9CMf7VYfugu6lu5666640” .
Kangol2
This is outright discrimination and segregation, so there’s no way it should have been allowed. If you go down this slippery slope, we’ll be back to where we were in the 1950s and before, but it’ll be far worse, because the society is far more diverse, and people’s attitudes in general have changed, despite the retrograde beliefs of anti-gay fanatics like these two vile witches.
Aires the Ram
I’ve always thought any business, be it this one in the article, or a pizza shop or a flower shop, whatever, would be very stupid to refuse money coming in the front door. That makes no sense to me. But, I also don’t think it’s right that certain gay couples go “shopping” for someplace that will refuse them service, all so that they can drag them into court and get their name in the newspaper. I certainly would not give any of my hard-earned $$ to a business who for some reason didn’t want me shopping there. I would never darken their door again, and I would bad-mouth them to anyone who would listen. And, I still go back to my original statement, that if I owned a small business, and somebody whom I might not otherwise like or want to be around, came in to spend $$ at my business, I sure as hell wouldn’t refuse their business. Kinda like Business 101.