Engaged actors Ben Platt and Noah Galvin have spoken out against the Supreme Court’s recent anti-LGBTQ+ ruling.
Last week, a six to three vote of the conservative supermajority opened the door for businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ+ people based on their sexuality by ruling that a Colorado wedding website designer can refuse to create work for members of the community if it conflicts with religious beliefs.
The majority opinion, which was written by Donald Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch, said that the First Amendment prohibited Colorado from “forcing a website designer to create expressive designs speaking messages with which the designer disagrees”.
Speaking on the ‘Just for Variety Podcast’ with Marc Malkin, Platt and Galvin expressed their disdain for the decision.
“I think it’s a distraction from things that are actually important, like the planet melting,” Platt said. “I also think it’s the people who are losing clout, it’s like the last rafegul fiery, ‘This is not how it should be!’ before they go away forever.”
He continued: “It’s my only hope. That’s the only way to stay any kind of optimistic about it because otherwise it’s just fully going back in time and harming people for no reason. It feels so backwards, so directly backwards.”
READ MORE: US Supreme Court rules designer can discriminate against LGBTQ+ customers
Galvin echoed this sentiment, explaining that the next generation of LGBTQ+ people gives him hope for the future.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt the confidence in my own self to show up as authentically as Luke did at our premiere,” he explained in reference to 16-year-old actor Luke Islam, who attended the Sundance premiere in full makeup. “It just filled me with joy and made me so, so proud of Luke and also of this next generation of kids who don’t really give a f*ck – and that is amazing.”
President Joe Biden is “deeply concerned” by the ruling
Shortly after the ruling, President Joe Biden issued a statement which stated that he is “deeply concerned” about the ramifications the ruling could have.
“In America, no person should face discrimination simply because of who they are or who they love,” he said.
“The Supreme Court’s disappointing decision in 303 Creative LLC v Elenis undermines that basic truth, and painfully it comes during Pride month when millions of Americans across the country join together to celebrate the contributions, resilience, and strength of the LGBTQI+ community.
READ MORE: “A blow against hate”: Joe Biden signs law protecting same-sex marriage
“While the court’s decision only addresses expressive original designs, I’m deeply concerned that the decision could invite more discrimination against LGBTQI+ Americans.
“More broadly, today’s decision weakens long-standing laws that protect all Americans against discrimination in public accommodations – including people of colour, people with disabilities, people of faith, and women.”
Biden also promised that his government “will also work with states across the country to fight back against attempts to roll back civil rights protections that could follow this ruling.”
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