Employers Allowed to Use Religious Beliefs to Refuse to Comply With Law Requiring Contraception Coverage

June 30, 2014

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in favor of closely-held corporations that sought an exemption to a federal law requiring employers to provide insurance coverage for contraception. The owners of the plaintiff companies – Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based craft supply store chain, and Conestoga Wood Specialties, a Pennsylvania furniture company – cited religious objections to contraception as a reason not to comply with the law.

The American Civil Liberties Union, religious organizations, other civil rights and women’s health groups, business leaders, and members of Congress filed friend-of-the-court briefs arguing that the companies’ owners cannot impose their personal religious beliefs on employees to withhold coverage for health services with which they disagree.

"This is a deeply troubling decision. For the first time, the highest court in the country has said that business owners can use their religious beliefs to deny their employees a benefit that they are guaranteed by law," said Louise Melling, deputy legal director of the ACLU. "Religious freedom is a fundamental right, but that freedom does not include the right to impose beliefs on others. In its ruling today, the Court simply got it wrong."

More information about these cases can be found at: aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/challenges-federal-contraceptive-coverage-rule

LGBT Coloradans and their allies will hold post-decision rally at 7 p.m. tonight at the Greek Theater in downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park 

June 25, 2014
DENVER – Today, the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals made history as the highest court in the nation so far to affirm the freedom to marry -- striking down the unconstitutional ban on marriage for same-sex couples in Utah. Why Marriage Matters Colorado, the broad coalition working to secure the freedom to marry for all committed couples in the Centennial State, lauded this decision as an important step forward for marriage equality in Colorado and nationally.
In response to this decision, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans and their allies will be holding a community rally tonight at 7 p.m. at the Greek Theater in Civic Center Park, located at 100 W. 14th Ave Pkwy in downtown Denver. The event, which is being organized by Why Marriage Matters Colorado, will feature a number of community leaders and is open to the public.

"Today's decision is a victory not only for the courageous couples who brought this case forward in Utah, but for everyone who cares about protecting and supporting families," said Dave Montez, Executive Director of One Colorado, one of the lead organizations of Why Marriage Matters Colorado, along with ACLU of Colorado and Freedom to Marry. "Following today's historic ruling, there can be no doubt that our own state's ban on marriage for same-sex couples violates the basic principles of fairness and equality that Coloradans hold dear."
"Thousands of committed couples in Colorado are eagerly waiting for the opportunity to be married," said Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, Executive Director of ACLU of Colorado. "While today’s ruling does not provide that immediate freedom, it does send a clear message that our state’s ban harms families and should not stand. Poll after poll has shown the majority of Americans support the freedom to marry, and support is increasing across the board, even among Republicans and in the West and in the South. 61 percent of Coloradans now support allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. It's time -- Colorado is ready, and America is ready, for full marriage equality."
Why Marriage Matters Colorado is broadening the dialogue with Coloradans about why marriage is important to same-sex couples and their families and why it is consistent with the values of liberty and freedom. More information on this statewide initiative – which is being spearheaded by leading statewide LGBT advocacy group One Colorado, ACLU of Colorado, and Freedom to Marry – can be found here: www.whymarriagematterscolorado.org

Denver PrideFest was ton of fun! Thanks to all who came by our booth and helped decorate our wedding cake. It looks awesome!

Check out our Flickr page for more pics from the Denver PrideFest on June 21-22.