Washington, D.C. – The Supreme Court this morning issued its ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The following response can be attributed to Deborah Richardson, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Colorado:
No one should face discrimination for who they are or who they love. Businesses that offer services to the public must comply with the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act which requires that businesses not discriminate on the basis of characteristics including race, sex and sexual orientation. The U.S. Supreme Court’s misguided decision today paves the way for businesses offering customized expressive services to violate that state law and discriminate against historically marginalized groups. Businesses open to the public must be open to all. The ACLU of Colorado will be vigilant in ensuring the impact of this holding is kept as narrow as possible, while we pursue all options for protecting the basic rights of historically marginalized groups.”
Earlier this year, ACLU of Colorado, alongside the ACLU, filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the First Amendment challenge to a Colorado civil rights law requiring businesses open to the public to treat customers equally.
