On Friday, June 30th, the US Supreme Court ruled that expressive businesses are allowed to deny services to LGBTQ customers. The outcome of 303 Creative v. Elenis creates an opportunity for businesses to use their religion as legal excuse to discriminate.

This ruling is an attack on the Queer community, it is inherently Queerphobic and Transphobic, and rooted in the far right, conservatives values held by a majority of our current Supreme Court. The impact it will have on our communities will be profound. Already marginalized in daily life, our people will be facing threats and violence from people who have more social and economic means, and will now have legal basis to exclude, humiliate, and cause violence to members of the LGBTQ community.

There is a myth of the “progressive present”. Which would have us believe that every form of oppression happened “back in the day” and we are steadily improving as a society as we learn more about each other. In reality, ignorance and lack of information was never the reason why our people have been and continue to be beaten, killed, harassed, and locked out of resources. It has always been continues to be about advancing a white supremacist agenda to continue exploiting us to their social, political, and economic benefit. We are constantly engaged in a struggle with the establishment to make room for our people to heal, grow, and thrive.

This current wave of Supreme Court decisions is a direct result of our most recent bout with the oppressors. Following our Global Movement for Black Liberation in 2020 and 2021, the state has made clear their commitment to maintain “order and control”, a very white, Christian, patriarchal order. The Supreme Court’s decisions — from overturning abortion access, to gutting affirmative action, to sanctioning the discrimination of our people — are in alignment with these efforts.

July 4th is a day that is widely associate with the celebration of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Yet so many of us, especially Black and Southeast Asian Queer, Trans, and Intersex folx are still not free, and are continually fighting for our lives. This past week, we have been reminded that this country was built from the exploitation of people like us, and its leaders will continue to make decisions that seek to destroy us.

At Freedom, Inc, we believe that WE WILL come together and overcome, WE WILL fight for the world we deserve, and WE WILL be free in our lifetimes. Follow us on our social media for opportunities to take action, and defend against attacks on our communities following this Supreme Court ruling. Join our mutual aid network to help us build healthy and well resourced communities. As always, we will continue to do what is right for and with our people.

Love and Power,

Freedom, Inc.