LEXINGTON, KY – Moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court rightly reaffirmed that the government can’t force Americans to say things they don’t believe. The 6-3 decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis is a milestone victory for the free speech and religious liberty of all Americans.
Statement from David Walls, Executive Director of The Family Foundation:
“Today’s decision is a milestone victory for the free speech and religious liberty rights of all Americans. The U.S. Supreme Court has rightly reaffirmed that the government can’t force people to promote something that is not true and say a message that they don’t believe. The redefinition of marriage in Obergefell hasunleashed a wave of attempts from government officials to silence and coerce Christians, and I am thankful that our nation’s High Court has upheld the First Amendment rights of Americans, including the millions of Americans that believe in marriage between one man and one woman.
“This reaffirmation of ‘tolerance, not coercion’ should be celebrated by all freedom-loving Americans. Today’s decision will benefit all Kentuckians, including Blaine Adamson and Chelsey Nelson who have been targeted for such coercion by radical government officials in cities that have wrongly weaponized ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ nondiscrimination laws,” Walls concluded.
Lorie Smith, a Christian graphic artist and website designer, had started her own design studio, 303 Creative, so she could promote causes close to her heart. Since creating custom designs for her own wedding, Smith wanted to expand her portfolio to celebrate weddings and express what she believes is the beauty of God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman. But Colorado’s misuse of its nondiscrimination law sought to coerce her into silence. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that disagreement is not discrimination, and the government can’t mislabel speech as discrimination to censor it.
The Family Foundation in Kentucky is a state policy ally of Alliance Defending Freedom, who argued Lorie Smith’s case.
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The Family Foundation is the leading Christian public policy organization in Kentucky and stands for Kentucky families and the Biblical values that make them strong. Learn more at kentuckyfamily.org.
