CONTACT INFORMATION: Dorothy He
dorothy@ncapaonline.org
[***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***]
RELEASE DATE
July 3rd, 2023
Washington, D.C. — The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in 303 Creative LLC et al. v. Elenis et al. on June 30, 2023 that ruled that a web designer does not have to provide her services to a same-sex couple because it does not align with her religious beliefs.
Today’s Supreme Court decision represents the continuation of a series of legal challenges that aim to undo decades of civil rights. It will open up further opportunities to undermine LGBTQ rights, leading to increased discrimination against the AAPI LGBTQ community. Queer AAPIs are already at a greater risk of physical and psychological harm: according to a 2021 study, seventy-one percent of AAPI transgender adults reported experiences of everyday discrimination, and nearly one in five AAPI LGBT adults in the country report that they do not feel safe in their communities.
“We are alarmed and disappointed by the Supreme Court’s continued efforts to turn back history and undermine the dignity of certain groups of Americans,” said Gregg Orton, National Director of NCAPA. “NCAPA denounces this decision, and we will continue fighting to ensure that the laws of our nation protect and honor the LGBTQ community.”
Agaiotupu Viena, Community Capacity Director of United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance (UTOPIA), commented:
“In the wake of the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis ruling, we find ourselves disheartened by the Supreme Court’s fundamentally misguided ruling against protecting the most vulnerable communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ community in this case. This decision not only sets a dangerous precedent but also fuels a concerning surge of discriminatory legislation, with over 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state houses this year alone. We are in a critical moment in this country where the urgent need for legislative support and compassion cannot be ignored when upholding the civil rights protections of all historically marginalized groups on any basis.”
Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council ofAsian Pacific Americans is a coalition of forty-six national Asian Pacific American organizations that represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns.