TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
The decision comes at the start of LGBT Pride Month.
A cake, or the lack of one, really, became the center of a national debate on religious freedom Monday.
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 7 to 2 in favor of a Christian baker from Colorado who wouldn't make a same-sex wedding cake.
"We're living in a moment where a lot of bigotry has been emboldened, you know, from the top down," said Nadine Smith, the executive director of Equality Florida.
Equality Florida says the ruling is part of a bigger picture: Addressing non-discrimination policies nationwide.
"People believe if you're in business, and your doors are open, then they should be open to all," said Smith. "You shouldn't experience the humiliation of someone saying, 'We don't serve your kind.'"
In 2012, Jack Phillips refused to bake a wedding cake for this couple -- because he said he had a religious objection.
The Supreme Court's ruling Monday was tailored for this case, stating the Colorado Civil Rights Commission violated Phillips' First Amendment rights.
The director of the Florida Prayer Caucus said this is a win for religious freedom.
"It was about the wedding cake. It wasn't about serving people. This was not a discriminatory thing," said Pam Olsen, the director of the Florida Prayer Caucus. "Mr. Phillips serves gay people. This is a religious liberties right."
Justice Anthony Kennedy said "the Commission's consideration of Phillips' case was neither tolerant nor respectful of his religious beliefs."
"We need to make sure that we make this about the event and not about the people, and that's really important -- because that's really what this argument is about," said Olsen.
Equality Florida says this decision isn't all bad news for the LGBT+ community. The executive director says not to panic, because the ruling had a narrow focus.
The Supreme Court did not decide whether or not a business can refuse to serve gay and lesbian customers. The court has yet to rule on a similar case involving a florist in Washington State.
