Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the case in which a bakery refused to provide a wedding cake to a same-sex couple simply because they were gay. While the court narrowly ruled against the couple, the 7-2 ruling stressed that LGBTQ people must not suffer “indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.” In response, Laura E. Durso, vice president of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress, issued this statement:
This decision recognizes the long-standing principle that businesses open to the public need to serve the public on equal terms. Despite narrowly ruling for the baker on the limited facts of this case, the court highlights the importance of enacting protections against discrimination to combat the mistreatment that same-sex couples and LGBTQ people face across all areas of life. Religious freedom is a cherished value that is only strengthened by inclusion of LGBTQ people under civil rights laws. Those of us who stand on the side of justice must work to ensure everyone is safe in their communities and receives their full measure of equality.
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