Arizona Attorney General Katherine Mayes has taken a defiant stance following the Supreme Court’s recent 6-3 ruling in the case of 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis. The court’s decision concluded that the state of Colorado could not compel a Christian web designer to create wedding websites for gay and lesbian couples if it violated her religious beliefs.
Mayes, expressing her strong disapproval, vowed not to enforce what she deemed the “woefully misguided” majority’s ruling. The case centered around the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), which forbids public accommodations from discriminating based on orientation.
🚨 BREAKING: Recently elected Arizona AG Kris Mayes announces that she is REFUSING to abide by the new Supreme Court ruling that allows for religious freedom.
What a disgrace! https://t.co/EhoKXdA6HY
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) July 5, 2023
By rejecting the court’s decision, Mayes made it clear that she would uphold Arizona’s own public accommodation law to its fullest extent, pledging to combat any form of discrimination, despite her willingness to be prejudicial against individuals because of their faith.
In a statement released on Friday, Mayes echoed the sentiments expressed by Justice Sotomayor, stating, “the idea that the Constitution gives businesses the right to discriminate is profoundly wrong.” While her office is still assessing the full impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Mayes affirmed her commitment to upholding principles of “equality and inclusivity.”
Mayes further emphasized that individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity), national origin, or ancestry in a public accommodation should promptly file a complaint with her office.
This recent decision follows closely on the heels of the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in overturning Roe v. Wade. Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), subsequently announced that the authority to prosecute abortion-related crimes would be transferred from county attorneys to the attorney general’s office.
Mayes’ refusal to enforce the Supreme Court ruling, her supposed commitment to combat discrimination, and her decision regarding the prosecution of abortion-related crimes all expose her detrimental actions against individual rights and the principles of Arizona law.
In her quest to promote inclusivity of the LGBTQ community, she tramples upon a young woman’s religious freedom in the process. This hypocritical behavior undermines her claims and highlights the harm she inflicts on the very values she claims to champion.
