Palm Springs joins Supreme Court case
The City of Palm Springs announced Monday that the City Council along with 70 cities has joined an amicus curiae to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a same-sex couple denied service by a Colorado baker because of their sexual orientation.
The brief prepared by the city’s lawyers, along with legal staff for Santa Clara County and New York City, was filed on behalf of 70 cities and counties and 80 mayors across the United States.
The case dates back to 2012, when a couple — David Mullins and Charlie Craig — went to Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, to order a cake for their wedding, but were denied service by owner Jack Phillips because they were a same-sex couple.
“Palm Springs is once again leading the way in advocating for and protecting LGBTQ individuals and members of other communities subjected to discrimination whether they be residents or visitors,” said Palm Springs City Councilmember Geoff Kors, who requested that the City Council sign on to the brief.
“Any business that is open to the public must be open to all of the public, not just some of the public. Palm Springs is proud to send a message to the Supreme Court that no one should be discriminated against simply because of who they are or who they love,” Kors added.
The brief, filed in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, argues that the Supreme Court should reject Phillips’ claim that he can refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples because making a cake is an act of expression protected under the First Amendment.
The Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled that the bakery had violated Colorado law by discriminating against Mullins and Craig.
The bakery sought review of the ruling by the nation’s highest court, which is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Dec. 5.
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
Find us on Facebook: KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
Follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates: @KESQ & @Local2
We’re on Instagram! @KESQ_News_Channel_3 & @CBSLocal2
Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
