Companies representing art, technology, sports and the wedding industry have joined forces to support Phoenix in a lawsuit. They filed a legal brief last week endorsing the city’s non-discrimination ordinance.
The group ranges from a husband and wife photography team to the semiconductor giant Intel. Sixty companies and business associations signed what’s commonly referred to as a ‘friend of the court’ brief. They say Phoenix’s ordinance which bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is good for business and the economy.
But two women who own a custom stationery store say the ordinance violates their rights to free speech and religion — they don’t want to do work for same-sex weddings. With the help of the Alliance Defending Freedom, they filed a lawsuit. A trial court upheld Phoenix’s ordinance and the case is now before the Arizona Court of Appeals.
In an e-mail, Phoenix Marketing and Communications Manager Tammy Vo wrote:
“The city was pleasantly surprised but grateful for Arizona businesses’ broad support of the City’s nondiscrimination ordinance. The amici businesses and industry trade associations — representing hundreds of thousands of employees statewide — recognize the intrinsic worth of ensuring fair and equal treatment in the marketplace for all citizens. The city believes their support for the ordinance will assist the appellate court to see the issues on appeal sharply, in bold relief, and compellingly in favor of a more just society.”
