Charlie Craig and David Mullins were planning their wedding reception and went to Masterpiece Cakeshop to order their wedding cake. The bakery turned them away, using religion as as the justification to refuse to serve the couple.
The Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Colorado Court of Appeals determined the bakery violated a state civil-rights law when it turned the couple away.
In the June 2018 decision, the Supreme Court held that the commission’s decision-making process was biased. The Court did not rule that religion can be used to harm others or undermine antidiscrimination laws. The Supreme Court itself recognized that disputes such as this one must be resolved “without subjecting [LGBTQ] persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.”
There are more cases like Masterpiece in courts across the country right now, and we will continue to fight on behalf of people facing discrimination in the name of religion. We will continue to fight in the courts and the legislatures to ensure that religion isn’t used to harm others.
Our country is strongest when we are all free to practice our religion, or no religion, as we choose—without hurting others.
Americans United Responds To The Masterpiece Decision
Learn More About The Case:
Commentary
The Supreme Court’s Masterpiece Cakeshop Ruling: What Really Happened
The Fight To Preserve Religious Freedom For All
Someone Else’s Religion Should Have No Power To Make You Invisible
50th Anniversary Of Supreme Court Decision Reminds Us That Religious Freedom Is About Fairness
We Hope The Supreme Court Rules That Businesses Should Be Open To All In Masterpiece Cakeshop Case
Banner Photo Credit: Ian Hartsoe