Washington, DC—Today, in a 6-to-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment allows certain businesses to refuse to provide services for same-sex marriages. In response, below is a statement by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ LGBTQ Alliance:
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a step backwards in the struggle for equality. This case is part of a larger organized effort to take away the rights of those in our LGBTQ community. Here in San Diego and in cities across the country, we will continue to defend the rights that our LGBTQ community has fought for over a generation to achieve. We know that most Americans believe that the rights of LGBTQ people should be upheld and they should not be treated as second-class citizens. In the days ahead, we must re-double our efforts to protect the fundamental values of dignity, respect and fairness for all.”
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has long championed protections for LGBTQ+ communities, including adoption of policy condemning discrimination against gay and lesbian people in 1984 and policy in support of marriage equality in 2009.