The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s narrow ruling in favor of a baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
“This is a disappointing decision – there’s no denying it,” said LGBT Equality Caucus CoChair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18). “We wouldn’t allow a hotel to refuse a room to a person because of their race or allow a restaurant to deny service to a couple based on their religion. Those same protections should apply to Americans based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Although this doesn’t give businesses the right to discriminate universally, it’s still an indication we need the Equality Act, which would finally extend critical civil rights protections to members of the LGBTQ community. Congress should pass the Equality Act to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans.”
In October 2017, Rep. Maloney and Senator Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin) led a congressional amici brief in support of respondents Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins. Rep. Maloney and Sen. Baldwin were joined on the brief by 35 Senators and 174 House members.
The mission of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The bi-partisan, 119-member Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world. The Caucus is led by the six openly LGBT members of Congress who serve as CoChairs and who authorize the release of statements and Caucus positions.
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