US Supreme Court 'Gay Couple Wedding Invitation' Case Enters New Phase

Refusal of Gay Couple's Wedding Invitation for Religious Reasons
'Twist' of a Gay Couple That Never Existed in the First Place

Questions are being raised about the existence of the so-called 'wedding invitation refusal case' lawsuit that shook the U.S. LGBTQ+ community.

According to local daily The Washington Post (WP) and the Associated Press (AP), the lawsuit dates back to 2016. Lori Smith, a woman in her 30s and a web designer, filed a lawsuit in a Colorado court after refusing an order from a male gay couple to create a wedding website. As a Christian, she stated that she would publicly display on her homepage a message refusing orders from same-sex couples based on her religious beliefs. The complaint also mentioned the real names and story of the male couple. According to Smith, the protagonists are Stuart and Mike. They requested the website, saying, "We are planning to get married early next month and would like to receive designs including invitations and the venue."

Lori Smith. [Photo by AP, Yonhap News]

Colorado state law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, and other factors. Smith eventually took the lawsuit to the Supreme Court. On the 30th of last month, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Smith, stating that Colorado state law infringed upon the freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment. The decision shocked American society, including the LGBTQ+ community. Following last year's overturning of the abortion rights ruling and last month's decision declaring affirmative action policies unconstitutional, the case sparked controversy.

U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement saying, "No one in America should be discriminated against because of who they are or whom they love," and expressed "deep concern that the Supreme Court's decision could lead to more discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in America."

However, claims have emerged that the gay couple cited by Smith may not actually exist. The local media outlet New Republic met with Stuart, who appears in the complaint, and confirmed that he never placed an order with Smith. Moreover, he has been happily married to a woman for 15 years and is not gay.

Stuart revealed that no media had ever asked him if he was indeed preparing for a same-sex marriage. In an interview with WP, he said, "I have been vocal in support of LGBTQ+ rights. This is extremely shocking."

Smith has not issued a specific statement. Her lawyer told AP, "The request from the gay couple named Stuart and Mike was received online," adding, "It may have been a deliberate 'bait' to stir controversy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.