Can a U.S. business lawfully refuse to provide wedding services to same-sex couples based on the owner’s personal beliefs? The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will decide on the case of a Denver baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a gay couple, says The Washington Post:
The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will consider whether a Denver baker acted lawfully in refusing to sell a wedding cake to a gay couple, setting up a major test next term weighing religious freedom against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Lower courts had ruled that Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, had violated Colorado’s public accommodations law, which prohibits refusing service to customers based on factors such as race, sex, marital status or sexual orientation.
The case of the Denver baker is similar to lawsuits brought elsewhere involving florists, calligraphers and others who say their religious beliefs won’t allow them to provide services for same-sex weddings. But these objectors have found little success in the courts, which have ruled that public businesses must comply with state anti-discrimination laws … The Washington Post
