WASHINGTON—In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, the Supreme Court correctly ruled Friday that a state’s application of a nondiscrimination law—which would compel web designer Lorie Smith to create a website for a same-sex wedding, violating her sincerely held religious beliefs—violates her right to free speech under the First Amendment. 

Sarah Parshall Perry and Tom Jipping, both senior legal fellows at The Heritage Foundation, released the following statement: 

“The Supreme Court got it right today in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, once again affirming that the First Amendment means what it says in protecting our freedom of speech.  

 

“The government cannot force Americans to abandon their constitutional rights in order to operate a business, but the Colorado Civil Rights Commission seems determined to suppress First Amendment rights in order to advance an ideological agenda. The Supreme Court has already rejected the commission’s hostility to religion and today does the same regarding freedom of speech.”  

BACKGROUND: The Daily Signal visited the 303 Creative shop to speak with Smith and share her story in an exclusive documentary. Watch it here.