Washington Florist Plans to Appeal to US Supreme Court

A florist who declined to create floral arrangements for a same sex wedding has announced plans to appeal her case to the United States Supreme Court after a Washington state court held that the woman violated the state’s civil rights law. 

As a result, the Supreme Court of the United States now has the chance to determine if conservative religious adherents can use the First Amendment as a defense against laws that require the accommodation of LGBT individuals.

The Florist’s Argument

The florist argues that no creative worker should be required by the government to create works that conflict with their religious beliefs. As a result of exercising her religious beliefs, the florist argues that she is now at risk of losing her business as well as her life savings. 

In opposition to the florist’s beliefs are Washington state laws that protect same-sex couples from discrimination as a result of their sexual orientation.

As a result, Washington state prosecutors filed a consumer protection lawsuit against the florist in 2013. She owns and operates a floral company in Richland, Washington, and she had refused to sell flowers to a gay man for use in his wedding.

The faith-based Alliance Defending Freedom group argues that the state of Washington unevenly enforces its civil rights law. The group argues that by suing the florist personally, the state was taking an aggressive step.

The Weight of the Masterpiece Cakeshop Decision

The florist’s case has previously reached the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court justices decided to hold the case in abeyance while it determined the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, which involved similar facts. 

In the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, a Christian baker refused to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In this case, the justices found for the baker because the Colorado civil rights commission displayed adverse sentiments toward his religious beliefs while the case was pending.

Following the Masterpiece cake decision, the Supreme Court justices lifted a lower court decision against the florist and requested that the court reconsider the case with the new decision of Masterpiece Cakeshop in mind. 

The Washington State Supreme Court determined that there was no evidence of discrimination against the florist’s beliefs. As a result, the Washington State Supreme Court decided not to change its decision.  

The Future of the Case

A decision on whether the Supreme Court will hear this case will be come during the Supreme Court’s October 2019 term,with arguments likely to follow in 2020 if the Court decides to take up the case.

The Supreme Court is also currently considering a similar case in Oregon where a state anti-discrimination panel fined a Christian bakery over $100,000 for refusing to produce a same sex wedding cake. 

Continue Reading the Universal Life Church’s Blog

The florist’s is just one of many recent cases that have tested the balance between religious freedom and LGBTQ rights in this country. 
The Universal Life Church’s blog focuses on detailing the most recent of these events, which are defining the future for both religious beliefs and LGBTQ rights in this country.