Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is calling on Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg to drop his appeal in the case of a Louisville photographer’s First Amendment rights.Chelsey Nelson sued the city of Louisville in 2019, arguing that the city’s Fairness Ordinance violated her constitutional rights by making it illegal to refuse her services for same-sex weddings. Nelson also said that Louisville made it illegal for her to explain her beliefs against same-sex marriage on her studio’s website.In August of 2020, a federal judge ordered Louisville not to enforce the Fairness Ordinance against Nelson. The judge said that photography is protected by free speech.Watch in the player above: Federal judge sides with wedding photographer, says Louisville law violates free speech “Just as gay and lesbian Americans ‘cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth,’ neither can Americans ‘with a deep faith that requires them to do things passing legislative majorities might find unseemly or uncouth.’ ‘They are members of the community too,’” wrote the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division in their ruling.Now, Cameron is asking for Greenberg to drop the city’s challenge after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian graphic artist who makes wedding websites being able to refuse working with same-sex couples.Cameron’s office said that this decision is “evidence that the mayor’s challenge is an exercise in futility and will further burden the taxpayers of Louisville and Jefferson County.” He says that Nelson’s case is no different than the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case.Greenberg’s office says it will keep working to defend the ordinance and make Louisville “an inclusive city where everyone is welcome.””For decades, the Louisville Fairness Ordinance has expressed the will of our community and it enshrines our commitment to ensuring every member of our diverse city is treated with respect and dignity,” Greenberg said in a statement. “In short, it offers protections for every person in Louisville to be full and complete citizens. The arguments against the Fairness Ordinance and against treating all citizens with respect are not new – they are tired and old arguments from a past that most of us are happy to leave behind. “To read Cameron’s full letter to Greenberg, click here.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is calling on Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg to drop his appeal in the case of a Louisville photographer’s First Amendment rights.
Chelsey Nelson sued the city of Louisville in 2019, arguing that the city’s Fairness Ordinance violated her constitutional rights by making it illegal to refuse her services for same-sex weddings. Nelson also said that Louisville made it illegal for her to explain her beliefs against same-sex marriage on her studio’s website.
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In August of 2020, a federal judge ordered Louisville not to enforce the Fairness Ordinance against Nelson. The judge said that photography is protected by free speech.
Watch in the player above: Federal judge sides with wedding photographer, says Louisville law violates free speech
“Just as gay and lesbian Americans ‘cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth,’ neither can Americans ‘with a deep faith that requires them to do things passing legislative majorities might find unseemly or uncouth.’ ‘They are members of the community too,’” wrote the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division in their ruling.
Now, Cameron is asking for Greenberg to drop the city’s challenge after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian graphic artist who makes wedding websites being able to refuse working with same-sex couples.
Cameron’s office said that this decision is “evidence that the mayor’s challenge is an exercise in futility and will further burden the taxpayers of Louisville and Jefferson County.” He says that Nelson’s case is no different than the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case.
Greenberg’s office says it will keep working to defend the ordinance and make Louisville “an inclusive city where everyone is welcome.”
“For decades, the Louisville Fairness Ordinance has expressed the will of our community and it enshrines our commitment to ensuring every member of our diverse city is treated with respect and dignity,” Greenberg said in a statement. “In short, it offers protections for every person in Louisville to be full and complete citizens. The arguments against the Fairness Ordinance and against treating all citizens with respect are not new – they are tired and old arguments from a past that most of us are happy to leave behind. “
To read Cameron’s full letter to Greenberg, click here.
