Following today’s 7-2 reversal by the Supreme Court, Heritage Foundation scholars Emilie Kao and Ryan Anderson noted that the court rightly ruled for the First Amendment in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission:

“This is a big win for the religious liberty of all Americans, including Americans who believe that marriage unites a husband and wife. The Supreme Court held that the state of Colorado was ‘neither tolerant nor respectful’ of Jack Phillips’ beliefs about marriage.”

“But as the court also noted, ‘religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression.’”

“Americans should be free to live their lives, including in the workplace, in accordance with their beliefs about marriage. Congress and the states should make this crystal clear by passing legislation, such as the First Amendment Defense Act, that explicitly prevents the type of government intolerance and coercion that took place in Colorado.”