A determined pro-equality group gathered at the State Capitol Monday evening calling for resolve and unity following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case a Lakewood baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.
Politicians, ministers, LGBTQ rights activists and others joined Charlie Craig and David Mullins, the gay couple in the case, in urging voters to elect political representatives who support equality.
A fiery U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette spoke at the rally, referring to the Supreme Court decision as a “wake up call for all of us.”
DeGette urged the gathering to “fight every day to overcome the forces of hate and bigotry.”
Charlie Craig speaks at rally Monday at Colorado State Capitol.
— kieran nicholson (@kierannicholson)
The Supreme Court, by a vote of 7-2, ruled in favor of Jack Phillips, owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop, who refused to bake the cake based on his religious objection to same-sex marriage.
Gov. John Hickenlooper, at the rally on the west steps of the Capitol, described the ruling as “disheartening.”
Still, the “narrow ruling” also upholds that “businesses open to the public must be open to all,” Hickenlooper said. “People can not be denied access based on their sexual orientation.”
Rally participants questioned how much precedent the decision will have on future clashes between religion and civil rights. They cried out for Colorado anti-discrimination laws and the state’s civil rights division to protect the fundamental rights of Coloradans.
“Today’s ruling does not change our country’s long-standing principal that businesses open to the public must be open to all,” said Daniel Ramos, executive director of One Colorado and an organizer of the rally.
Denise Maes, Public Policy Director of the ACLU of Colorado, said she was “proud and honored” to have represented Craig and Mullins.
Despite the ruling, there is: “No First Amendment right to discriminate,” she said. “Colorado is and will remain open for all.”
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