In a vote of 7 to 2, SCOTUS has decided that in this particular instance the Colorado Civil Right Commission’s actions were “inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion.” The court went on to say in the future, “these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.” We’re working with our legal partners to understand exactly how this decision will impact LGBTQ people in Georgia.

Our nation decided more than 50 years ago that when a business decides to open its doors to the public, that business should be open to all—a core principle that is at the heart of how we treat one another. That principle is more important than ever in light of today’s decision. While the Court’s decision does not create a new license to discriminate, it also does not address the discrimination that millions of Americans still face. In more than half the country, our state laws do not explicitly protect LGBT Americans from discrimination in stores and restaurants, in the workplace, or in housing.

Stay tuned for more updates!