Human Rights Campaign President on Supreme Court Denying Certiorari for Ingersoll & Freed v. Arlene’s Flowers, Inc.

by Aryn Fields •

WASHINGTON — Today, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Alphonso David celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to reject certiorari for Ingersoll & Freed v. Arlene’s Flowers, Inc., a case that evaluated whether a state violates a business owner’s First Amendment rights to free speech by enforcing a state nondiscrimination law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in places of public accommodation.

The Washington Supreme Court found that the refusal of Arlene’s Flowers to sell flowers to a same-sex couple violated Washington Law Against Discrimination and the Consumer Protection Act, the flower shop then appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. By rejecting certiorari, the Supreme Court allows the lower court’s decision to stand.

Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David issued the following statement:

By denying certiorari in Ingersoll & Freed v. Arlene’s Flowers, Inc., the Supreme Court has once again said that critical nondiscrimination laws protecting LGBTQ people are legally enforceable and has set a strong and definitive precedent. Now, we need these protections for the LGBTQ community, and all people, across the country, and in every walk of life. That’s why we need to double-down on our efforts to pass The Equality Act. The Court has validated nondiscrimination protections, now Congress must follow suit.

Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President

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