Tag Archives: public accommodations

Satanic Temple: If Supreme Court Rules Against LGBTs, We’ll Make Anti-Gay Bakers Make Satan Wedding Cakes

Via press release from the Satanic Temple: This fall, the United States Supreme Court will hear a case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a gay wedding. The argument has been contextualized as a matter of Free Speech versus Civil Rights. However, because sexual orientation is not a protected class under the Civil Rights Act …

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ALABAMA: Birmingham City Council Approves Sweeping LGBT Anti-Discrimination Protections, First In State

Via press release: Today, HRC hailed the Birmingham City Council for passing city-wide non-discrimination protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public accommodations and employment. This ordinance is the culmination of more than ten years of work from local LGBTQ grassroots organizers and a pro-equality coalition including Equality Alabama and HRC. “Today, the City of Birmingham made …

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MINNESOTA: Federal Court Rejects Videographers’ Attempt To Discriminate Against Same-Sex Couples

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports: A St. Cloud couple will not be able to refuse wedding videography services for same-sex couples after a federal judge on Wednesday dismissed their lawsuit challenging Minnesota’s human rights laws. In a 63-page ruling, Chief U.S. District Judge John Tunheim wrote that a provision of the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) prohibiting discrimination by businesses was …

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UTAH: Mormon Church, GOP Lawmakers, And Sen. Mike Lee Back Anti-Gay Colorado Baker In SCOTUS Briefs

Ben Winslow reports at Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: Nearly all of the Utah State Senate has signed on in support of a Colorado shop who refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in a case now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah [photo], …

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Tony Perkins Celebrates The DOJ Siding With Anti-Gay Baker: Trump Is On The Right Side Of Religious Liberty

Via press release from hate group leader Tony Perkins: It may be one of the most important religious liberty cases in a century — and President Trump isn’t about to be on the wrong side of it. In the latest sign that this isn’t Barack Obama’s DOJ, the administration is going to bat for Jack Phillips, the Christian baker at …

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DOJ Files SCOTUS Amicus Brief Backing Anti-Gay Baker

Via press release from the ACLU: The Justice Department filed a brief today with the Supreme Court arguing that businesses that are open to the public have a constitutional right to discriminate against LGBT people. The brief was filed in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the case in which a Colorado bakery refused to serve a same-sex couple …

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House And Senate Republicans To File Supreme Court Amicus Brief In Support Of Anti-Gay Colorado Baker

The Hill reports: House and Senate Republicans are throwing their support behind the owner of a Colorado cake shop who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding in a case headed to the Supreme Court. GOP lawmakers announced plans Thursday to send an amicus brief on behalf of Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop. Phillips is challenging …

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California Bakery Refuses To Serve Gay Couple Because “Our Business Is God’s Business, We Work For Him”

ABC News reports: A Bakersfield bakery is facing controversy after they reportedly refused to serve a gay couple. Posts on social media have criticized Tastries Bakery for refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The owner of the bakery has said she chose not to create the cakes because of her beliefs. Owner Cathy Miller said, “Here …

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Anti-Gay Washington Florist Appeals To SCOTUS

The Associated Press reports: A florist from Washington state is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a decision by the state’s high court which concluded she violated the law by refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. Lawyers for Barronelle Stutzman on Friday contended the state Supreme Court decision violated her First Amendment protection for artistic expression. Her …

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Colorado Baker: Jesus Would Refuse To Serve Gays

Law Newz reports: After the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear his case, Colorado baker Jack Phillips appeared Thursday on ABC’s The View to explain why he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. He told hosts that the bible said marriage was only between a man and a woman. When asked if Jesus would’ve done the …

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SCOTUS Agrees To Hear Anti-Gay Colorado Baker Case

The Washington Examiner reports: The Supreme Court decided Monday to hear a case involving a Colorado baker’s refusal to design and make a cake for a same-sex marriage. The baker, Jake Phillips, declined to make the custom cake and said it conflicted with his religious beliefs. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission decided that Phillips’ actions amounted to sexual orientation discrimination …

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BREAKING: Federal Appeals Court Gives Go-Ahead To Mississippi Law Legalizing Anti-LGBT Discrimination

The Associated Press reports: A federal appeals court says Mississippi can start enforcing a law that will let merchants and government employees cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday reversed a judge’s decision that had blocked the law before it could take effect last July. U.S. District Judge Carlton …

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OKLAHOMA: Senate Panel Advances Republican Bill To Ban Local LGBT Anti-Discrimination Ordinances

NPR Tulsa reports: An Oklahoma senate panel approved a bill Monday to prevent city and county governments from outdoing state laws on employment and public accommodations. The bill initially prevented local governments from going further than any state law. A committee substitute focused it on employment and public accommodations laws. Senate Bill 694 author Sen. Joshua Brecheen [photo] sparred with …

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WASHINGTON: State Supreme Court Rules Unanimously Against Anti-Gay Florist Barronelle Stutzman

The Associated Press reports: The Washington state Supreme Court has ruled that a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding broke anti-discrimination laws. The nine justices posted their unanimous ruling on Thursday. Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Richland, Washington, had been fined by a lower court for denying service to a gay couple in 2013. Stutzman had …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Anti-Gay Christian Bakers Lose Bid To Take Appeal To Supreme Court

The Guardian reports: Northern Ireland’s attorney general cannot refer back to the supreme court the case of a local bakery fined for refusing to bake a gay-themed cake. John Larkin QC’s legal bid to get the supreme court to review court rulings against Ashers Bakery was deemed to have come in too late, Northern Ireland’s lord chief justice said on …

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KENTUCKY: Hate Group Tells Appeals Court That T-Shirt Maker Didn’t Discriminate Against Lexington Pride

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports: A lawyer for Lexington-based Hands on Originals told a three-judge panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals Tuesday his client objected to the message on a 2012 Lexington Pride Festival T-shirt but does not discriminate against gays or same-sex couples. Jim Campbell, a lawyer with the nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom, said Blaine Adamson, the owner of …

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Republicans To Re-Introduce Bill To Legalize Anti-LGBT Discrimination Nationwide Because Donald Trump

Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: Sen. Mike Lee of Utah will reintroduce a bill next year to protect people and corporations that hold a religious objection to same-sex marriage, a spokesman for his office told BuzzFeed News, adding that the political climate amid Donald Trump’s presidency will give the legislation a better shot at advancing than it had the past …

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MINNESOTA: Hate Group Recruits Christian Couple In Attempt To Legalize Anti-LGBT Discrimination [VIDEO]

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports: A St. Cloud husband-and-wife film company is challenging the constitutionality of Minnesota’s human rights act, arguing that they will be punished for refusing wedding services to same-sex couples. In one of the first challenges since same-sex marriage became legal in Minnesota in 2013, Carl and Angel Larsen’s Telescope Media Group filed suit Tuesday in federal court …

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INDIANA: Haters Win First Battle To Overturn Local LGBT Rights Ordinances And Legalize Discrimination

The Indianapolis Star reports: Conservatives overcame the first hurdle in their lawsuit that aims to overturn the “fix” to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act and four city ordinances that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination. In an order issued Wednesday, Hamilton Superior Judge Steven R. Nation rejected claims from the cities of Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington and Columbus …

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LIVE VIDEO: Washington State Supreme Court Hears Appeal By Anti-Gay Florist Baronelle Stuztman

At this writing the attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom is speaking. Via CBN News: The Washington State Supreme Court will hear the case today of a Christian florist who declined to provide flowers for a gay wedding. A lower court judge ruled last year that Barronelle Stutzman, owner of “Arlene’s Flowers” in Richland, Washington, violated an anti-discrimination law. The two …

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