AZ Supreme Court Gives Christians a License to Discriminate Against Gay Couples [View all]

The Arizona Supreme Court just gave Christian business owners permission to discriminate against same-sex couples — and possible interracial ones — in the name of religion. While the U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t yet weighed in on the legality of faith-based bigotry in public spaces, this case was limited to the state constitution and is therefore outside the purview of SCOTUS.

It was a 4-3 decision, tipped in that direction by two additional conservative judges recently installed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

This case involved a company called Brush & Nib Studio, which makes custom wedding invitations. It’s not like a same-sex couple asked owners Breanna Koski and Joanna Duka to provide products for their celebration; instead, fearing the possibility that might happen, Koski and Duka wanted immunity from trouble in advance because Phoenix has an ordinance banning anti-gay discrimination in public places. An appeals court unanimously told them absolutely not. But the Ducey-packed Supreme Court ruled the other way.