“Grave Concerns” About Cakeshop Case

Washington, D.C., December 5, 2017  – As the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, AFJ President Nan Aron released the following statement:

“It’s hard to overstate the significance of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case when it comes to the rights of all people to fully participate in American life.  The Trump Administration and ultra right-wing organizations are fighting to undo the progress we’ve made on LGBTQ equality.  This case will decide whether businesses will be allowed to opt out of anti-discrimination laws and refuse service to not only LGBTQ persons, but potentially any individual customer or community. A business open to the public should be open to all.  The Masterpiece Cakeshop case is just one piece of an all-out assault on rights and freedoms orchestrated by an extreme right that sees this moment in history as a rare window of opportunity to erode critical legal protections, and we have grave concerns about both the outcome of this case and the fate of our justice system in the hands of this Administration and its ideological allies.”