Defending The First Amendment

As we reported yesterday, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court appears likely to uphold the First Amendment free speech rights of a Christian web designer in Colorado who opposes same-sex marriage. 

The case, which has clear implications for religious liberty as well, is just the latest battle pitting the demands of militant homosexual rights movement against the First Amendment rights of men and women of faith.

But I want to draw your attention to a couple of the arguments that occurred during yesterday’s hearing because they tell you everything you need to know about where we are headed.

While questioning Colorado’s Solicitor General Eric Olson, who was defending the state’s law, Justice Samuel Alito asked, “Do you think it's fair to equate opposition to same-sex marriage with opposition to interracial marriage?”  Olson answered, “Yes.”

There you have it, friends. 

If you believe in the definition of marriage as God defined it, the state of Colorado (and many others on the left) believes you’re a bigot and the equivalent of a racist who deserves to be punished.

One way the state might go about “punishing” people is to “reeducate” them.  Consider this exchange between Justice Neil Gorsuch and Solicitor General Olson:

GORSUCH: “[Jack Phillips] did go through a reeducation program pursuant to Colorado law, did he not?”

OLSON: “He went through a process that ensured he was familiar with —”

GORSUCH: “It was a reeducation program, right?” 

OLSON: “It was not a reeducation program.”

GORSUCH: “What do you call it?”

OLSON: “It was a process to make sure he was familiar with Colorado law.”

GORSUCH: “Some might be excused for calling that a reeducation program.”

As I have repeatedly warned over the years, the culture war is real and only one side can prevail.