FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2018
Contact:
Lauren Gray, NCLR Communications Director
lgray@nclrights.org / (215) 983-3099
NCLR Statement in Response to Today’s Arizona Court Decision’s Reliance on Masterpiece Cakeshop to Reject Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination
PHOENIX—The Arizona Court of Appeals today relied on this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission to reject anti-LGBTQ discrimination by a business that designs and sells wedding invitations in Brush & Nib Studio, LC v. City of Phoenix.
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Legal Director Shannon Minter issued the following statement in response:
“This week’s Supreme Court decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop addressed a unique situation specific to the facts in that case. It did not dilute anti-LGBTQ discrimination protections and in fact reaffirmed their importance. With regard to race, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected trait, a business can decide what products it sells—but not to whom. Today’s Arizona appeals court decision correctly relied upon Masterpiece Cakeshop to ensure that businesses understand that they cannot turn people away from the products or services they provide because of who they are or take actions equivalent to hanging a ‘no gays allowed’ sign in the window.”
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The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.NCLRights.org
