The US Supreme Court refused to step into a slavery case in New Mexico. The New Mexico Human Rights Commission had ruled that two lesbians had the right to hold photographers as a slaves, forcing them to perform photographic work for them against their will. OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it is not too far off. Forcing people to work for others against their will is a form a slavery, just one that has some pay. That’s what is happening with these cases where businessmen have to work for gays.
The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from Christian photographers who were fined and admonished by the New Mexico Supreme Court for declining to work a same-sex ceremony, in what could be a blow to religious business owners.
The high court decision not to take up the appeal means the New Mexico ruling against them stands. That ruling is only binding in New Mexico, but could set a precedent that can be cited in subsequent cases.
In this case, Elane Photography, owned by Jon and Elaine Huguenin of New Mexico, was brought to court for refusing to photograph a same-sex couple’s commitment ceremony in 2006.
An attorney for the couple argued that the business openly advertises its wedding photography services, and as a public business is required to follow the same anti-discrimination laws as any other company.
The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in August that the business’s refusal to photograph the ceremony involving two women did violate the state’s Human Rights Act.
Lawyers for the business, though, argued the ruling violates the business owners’ free speech rights by compelling them to “express messages that conflict with their religious beliefs.”
Elaine Huguenin said she also has a right of artistic expression under the First Amendment that allows her to choose what pictures to take, or refrain from taking.
The reason the SCOTUS is avoiding these cases is obvious. As soon as they grant a religious exceptions to private discrimination, freedom of association will be out of the box again. How can one permit Christians to avoid perverts, but not permit blacks to avoid Koreans? The current principle is that your tastes, your preferences are not important in the area of commerce, hiring and housing. if there is an exception made, then the whole regime gets called into question.
