On Monday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that business owners can refuse to serve LGBTQ customers due to their personal religious beliefs, The Hill reports.
In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that the Phoenix-based business Brush & Nib Studio could defy a citywide “anti-discrimination” law and decline to create wedding invitations for LGBTQ unions, citing their First Amendment right to freedom of religion. The business was defended by the Alliance Defending Freedom.
In the majority opinion, State Justice Andrew Gould said that “the City effectively cuts off Plaintiffs’ right to express their beliefs about same-sex marriage by telling them what they can and cannot say.”
Reacting to the decision, attorneys defending the city of Phoenix noted that the ruling does not strike down the law, which Mayor Kate Gallego (D-Ariz.) said means that “we will continue to have to have a debate over equality in this community.”