The religious right has been fast at work, seemingly mass-distributing “religious freedom” bills to state legislatures across the country. From Arizona to Mississippi to Kansas, receptive anti-gay Republican lawmakers have been pushing this bills as far as they can, all citing two iconic cases thy claim prove Christians need protection from gay people and same-sex marriage.
No doubt you’ve heard about these cases.
The first, a Colorado bakery, the Masterpiece Cakeshop, that refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The second, a New Mexico photographer, Elane Photography, who declined to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony in 2006.
The Supreme Court just announced it is refusing to hear the New Mexico case, Elane Photography v. Willock. Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade, who broke the news, reports the Court did not state why it will not hear the case — not an unusual act.
This is, therefore, the end off the line for Elane Photography v. Willock, which was decided against the anti-gay photographer, based on New Mexico’s anti-discrimination laws. At the time, New Mexico did not have a law supporting same-sex marriage, yet the religious right claimed this case as “evidence” of how marriage equality hurts Christians.
The case will stand as decided, against Elane Photography, against anti-gay religious discrimination, and in support of equal treatment.
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Image, top, by Chris Mancilla via Instagram.