- Tech
-
-
Tech
The gadgets, platforms, and software that make your digital life possible. If it bleeps, clicks or blinks, you’ll find it here.
-
Devices
-
Categories
-
-
- Internet Culture
-
-
Internet Culture
-
Categories
-
Featured
-
-
- Streaming
-
-
Streaming
-
Services
-
Featured
-
-
- IRL
-
-
IRL
-
Categories
-
Featured
-
-
- Social
-
-
Social
-
Categories
-
Featured
-
-
- Live TV
-
-
Live TV
-
Services
-
Guides
-
-
- More
- Search
See all Editor's Picks →
See all Popular →
Represented by Complex Media, Inc. for advertising sales.
Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Ethics
Latest
- Timmy Thick blasted for saying the N-word in comeback video 2 Years Ago
- Netflix’s ‘The Confession Killer’ is a devastating and well-built portrait of a con artist Today 8:00 AM
- Swipe This! I’m ashamed to tell anyone about my online shopping habit Today 6:00 AM
- UPS facing backlash for thanking police after employee killed in shootout Saturday 5:02 PM
- Sanders campaign fires staffer after anti-Semitic, homophobic tweets surface Saturday 3:13 PM
- Brother Nature was attacked, says everyone just watched with phones out Saturday 2:45 PM
- Ryan Reynolds’ gin company hires Peloton wife for ad Saturday 1:24 PM
- Ex-vegan YouTuber accused of fraud after following meat-only diet Saturday 1:11 PM
- The 15 best Disney+ hidden gems and deep cuts Saturday 12:23 PM
- Everyone in GoFundMe scam involving homeless veteran has now pleaded guilty Saturday 12:06 PM
- Boy invites kindergarten class to his adoption–and people are emotional Saturday 11:56 AM
- Reddit links leaked trade deal documents to Russian campaign Saturday 10:44 AM
- How to stream Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik Saturday 8:30 AM
- Amazon sends customers condoms and soap instead of Nintendo Switch Saturday 8:28 AM
- How to live stream Jermall Charlo vs. Dennis Hogan Saturday 8:00 AM
Supreme Court plans to hear case that could legalize LGBTQ discrimination
A Colorado baker argues he can refuse to serve a gay couple because that’s his religious right.
The Supreme Court will hear the appeal of a baker who denied a same-sex couple services on the grounds of religious freedom. The decision could seal the fate of LGBTQ anti-discrimination measures across the nation.
In 2012, Lakewood, Colorado bakery owner Jack Phillips rejected a request to create a wedding cake for David Mullins and Charlie Craig, a gay couple marrying in Massachusetts. Mullins and Craig won their case at the state level, but Phillips argued that the First Amendment allowed him to refuse service to the gay couple based on religious objections.
“Jack Phillips is an artist,” Phillips’ brief states. “His faith teaches him to serve and love everyone and he does. It also compels him to use his artistic talents to promote only messages that align with his religious beliefs. Thus, he declines lucrative business by not creating goods that contain alcohol or cakes celebrating Halloween and other messages his faith prohibits, such as racism, atheism, and any marriage not between one man and one woman.”
The brief suggests that Mullins and Craig could have bought their cake elsewhere. But the couple believes this is unsound. Instead, their lawyer argues that discrimination is damaging to the entire LGBTQ community because many queer Americans do not have multiple establishments from which they can choose goods and services.
“It is no answer to say that Mullins and Craig could shop somewhere else for their wedding cake, just as it was no answer in 1966 to say that African-American customers could eat at another restaurant,” their lawyer wrote in a brief in opposition.
It’s unclear as of yet how the Supreme Court will rule on the matter. However, the latest Supreme Court Justice, Neil Gorsuch, has previously supported religious freedom rulings, stating they’re integral to the First Amendment. The case would give the court’s conservative majority an opportunity to rule against anti-discrimination measures.

Ana Valens
Ana Valens is a reporter specializing in online queer communities, marginalized identities, and adult content creation. She is Daily Dot's Trans/Sex columnist. Her work has appeared at Vice, Vox, Truthout, Bitch Media, Kill Screen, Rolling Stone, and the Toast. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and spends her free time developing queer adult games.