After the recent Supreme Court ruling that a Colorado graphic designer has the right to refuse to create websites for same-sex marriages, concerns have been raised about a form included in court papers that seemed to suggest a gay couple had sought the designer’s services. However, the man who allegedly submitted the form claims he was unaware of its existence until he was contacted by a reporter. He is straight, married to a woman, and a supporter of gay rights. Critics argue that these discrepancies undermine the court’s decision.
The request in question was apparently submitted on the designer’s website in September 2016, a day after she filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s anti-discrimination law. The form, supposedly filled out by someone named Stewart, included an email address and phone number. Stewart mentioned that he and his partner, Mike, were getting married and were interested in design work for invites, placenames, and possibly a website.
Although it is confirmed that the designer never followed up on the request, she referenced it in court papers to strengthen her case. Her lawyers briefly mentioned the matter in their main brief, while lawyers for Colorado argued that the form was irrelevant.
The Supreme Court, in both the majority opinion and the dissent, did not address or give any weight to the alleged request.
Regarding the matter, Lorie Smith’s lawyers have acknowledged that it remains unclear whether the request was genuine or a prank. Investigating further would have been legally challenging, as following up on the request could have resulted in prosecution for violating the law.
Stewart, the supposed requester, has stated that no one involved in the case has reached out to verify the accuracy of the court filings. He expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court’s ruling and its implications for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Colorado attorney general’s office is currently evaluating whether any further action is required. However, it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will reconsider its ruling based on the recent revelations about the request, as it did not rely on it in the first place.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
