As the United States Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a landmark discrimination case that could have far-reaching consequences for LGBTQ Americans, 30+ mayors from across the country are uniting to show their support for nondiscrimination measures that ensure all Americans are treated fairly and equally.
The Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case concerns a Colorado bakery that refused to sell a cake to a same-sex couple celebrating their civil marriage. This action was in direct violation of Colorado’s nondiscrimination law, and both the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the state appellate court ruled in favor of the couple.
Today’s statement is the latest in a number of actions taken by mayors around the Masterpiece case. In October more than 150 mayors and municipalities representing 51 million constituents signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief in support of nondiscrimination protections – most who were activated through FFAA’s Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination program.
The mayors issued the following joint statement:
“As mayors of cities large and small, we hold a special responsibility to protect our residents and ensure their equal participation in public life. Discrimination, whatever the cause, serves no purpose but to divide our communities and we cannot allow our public square to become a place of fear, especially for marginalized communities like our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents. We affirm the right of all people to be treated with respect and served on equal terms. Equality for our LGBTQ residents does not reduce our freedom of speech nor our religious expression – it enhances it.”
The full list of mayors who specifically signed the statement:
Kristopher Larson, Nederland CO
Jennifer Roberts, Charlotte NC
Nancy Rotering, Highland Park IL
John McNally, Youngstown OH
Victor De Luca, Maplewood Township NJ
Dale Berman, North Aurora IL
William Moehle, Brighton NY
John Heilman, West Hollywood CA
Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles CA
William Peduto, Pittsburgh PA
Jack Blalock, Portsmouth NH
Ray Stephanson, Everett WA
James Kenney, Philadelphia PA
Jon Mitchell, New Bedford MA
William Peduto, Pittsburgh PA
Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro NC
Allison Silberberg, Alexandria VA
Ken Miyagishima, Las Cruces NM
Steve Adler, Austin TX
Michael B. Hancock, Denver CO
Suzanne Jones, Boulder CO
John Engen, Missoula MT
Levar Stoney, Richmond VA
Sly James, Kansas City MO
Stephanie Miner, Syracuse NY
Paul Soglin, Madison WI
Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento CA
Byron Brown, Buffalo NY
Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio TX
Jenny Durkan, Seattle WA
Ted Wheeler, Portland OR
John Cranley, Cincinnati OH
To learn more about the wide array of constituencies supporting nondiscrimination in advance of the Masterpiece oral arguments, visit www.OpenToAll.com.
