In the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple, Florida LGBTQ activists and business owners shared their thoughts.
"We are very concerned going forward that that will be used to justify not just discrimination but outright animus towards the gay community," said Terry Fleming, co-founder of Pride Community Center of North Central Florida.
The narrow ruling was centered around the case history rather than general principles and is not likely to set a precedent for future cases. The decision was made in response to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission's hostility toward the baker's religious views.
The Supreme Court did not resolve whether business owners have the right to refuse service on the grounds of free speech. However, the court is being asked to consider a similar case involving a Washington state florist who was fined for refusing to make the arrangements for a same-sex wedding.