The ruling, which offers a narrow opinion against the Colorado Commission for what was perceived to be religious bias, could possibly undermine the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act’s (CADA) guarantee of equal protection in public accommodations. The ruling does not give businesses a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, though it may open the door to further challenges to civil rights protections.
«The narrowness of the Supreme Court’s decision means that the ruling does not apply broadly to similar service providers. However, it could still embolden businesses across the country who believe they have the right to discriminate based on religious beliefs. It is clear that states urgently need to pass nondiscrimination laws to ensure that our civil rights remain protected and continue to be enforced», said Glennda Testone, Executive Director of The Center.
«The possibility of an opening for other service providers who may be similarly focused on creating unequal standards of operation for the LGBTQ community strengthens our resolve to continue fighting for equal treatment under the law», concluded Testone.
