(5 Dec 2022)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4409581
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington – 5 December 2022
1. Wide exteriors of the U.S. Supreme Court with a large group of demonstrators out front
ANNOTATION: On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments in a case concerning gay rights, free speech and religion.
2. Wide of Lorie Smith speaking
ANNOTATION: Lorie Smith, a graphic artist and website designer from Colorado, wants to begin offering wedding websites to customers.
3. Close of Free Speech balloons and signs
ANNOTATION: She says her Christian faith prevents her from creating websites celebrating same-sex marriages, despite claiming to have served other LGBTQ+ clients.
4. Person dressed as a Bible holding a sign reading (English): "Use me not for your bigotry" as man with equality flags walks past
ANNOTATION: But Colorado's accommodation law says if Smith offers wedding websites to the public, she must provide them to all customers.
5. Close of the top of the Supreme Court, reading "Equal Justice Under Law"
ANNOTATION: Smith says Colorado's law violates her free speech rights.
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lorie Smith, Graphic Artist and Website Designer:
"I love people and I create for everyone, including those who identify as LGBT. Like other artists, my decisions on what I create -- what I custom design for -- is always based on the message, never the individual requesting the art work."
7. Mid of demonstrators huddled in prayer
ANNOTATION: The Court's conservative majority sounded sympathetic toward Smith during the arguments.
8. Various of free speech protesters gathered outside
ANNOTATION: Smith and her supporters say ruling against her would force artists to do work that is against their beliefs.
9. Wide of LGBTQ+ demonstrators
ANNOTATION: Her opponents, meanwhile, say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve other diverse customers.
STORYLINE:
The Supreme Court's conservative majority is sounding sympathetic to a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples. But in arguments Monday, liberal justices suggested that allowing that discrimination could open the door to broader refusals by businesses to serve Black customers, Jewish or Islamic people, interracial couples and many others.
The Colorado case is the latest clash of religion and gay rights to land at the high court. A case involving a Colorado baker and a wedding cake for a gay couple ended with a limited decision five years ago and is to return to the court.
While the Justices sparred inside the courthouse, demonstrators from both sides of the argument gathered outside. A freedom of speech group offered a long list of speakers making their points about the importance of free speech, while a smaller group of counter demonstrators, many holding LGBTQ+ flags, did their best to muffle out the speakers by using blow horns and megaphones.
After the hearing, Lorie Smith, the graphic designer from Colorado who is at the center of this case, came down the steps of the United States Supreme Court with her attorney, Kristen Waggoner. They both took turns speaking to the crowd of supporters outside the courthouse.
"I love people and I create for everyone, including those who identify as LGBT," Smith said. "Like other artists, my decision on what I create, what I custom design for, is always based on the message, never the individual requesting the art work."
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