HISPANIC FEDERATION CONDEMNS SCOTUS RULING ROLLING BACK LGBTQ+ RIGHTS
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2023
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
NEW YORK – The United States Supreme Court today released its decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, holding that creative businesses can legally discriminate against same-sex couples based on the first amendment right to the freedom of expression. Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation, issued the following statement in response:
“As a legally married gay man, I am appalled by this decision and the dangerous consequences it will have on the lives of not only LGBTQ+ people but all people of color and religious minorities. This decision is the latest in a wave of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community championed by a very small, very vocal minority, which is executing a coordinated campaign to roll back our rights and the rights of other historically marginalized groups.
“We all know it is possible to stand strong in one’s faith while upholding dignity, respect, and freedom from discrimination for all people. It’s a disgrace that anti-LGBTQ+ extremists are hijacking religion in their quest to further marginalize the LGBTQ+ community. Seventy-eight percent of Hispanic Catholics oppose allowances for religious-based service refusals. This isn’t about freedom of religion; it’s about identity-based discrimination, period.
“This decision is also not an isolated incident, but rather reflects a broader pattern of our highest court's extremist majority upending long-standing legal precedents and dismantling the hard-won advancements of civil rights leaders and policymakers to foster a more just, equitable, and inclusive nation. The ramifications of 303 Creative v. Elenis do not start and stop with LGBTQ+ communities. It leads us down a path where discriminating against historically marginalized communities is a revived norm that we haven’t seen since the 1950s, when businesses, schools, and public spaces denied services to people of different backgrounds and color.
“Hispanic Federation stands with the LGBTQ+ community and firmly against any decision that erodes protections against identity-based discrimination. We won’t stop fighting to ensure the LGBTQ+ community and other historically marginalized communities are treated equally under the law, and can live with dignity and respect. Our system of checks and balances can help protect our communities, which is why we call on Congress to urgently pass the Equality Act to protect the LGBTQ+ community from further discrimination.”
