Judges Say Web Design Is ‘Pure Speech’ and That the State Can Compel It Anyway
The article glosses over a very important piece of this story. No one tried to compel this designer to make a marriage site they disagreed with. The design firm preemptively filed the suit looking for a summary judgement guaranteeing they would not have to create such sites. They were looking for a fight.<p>With that said, there’s something about this ruling that feels very sinister. The idea that an artist might be compelled to create art that they fundamentally disagree with is some very dystopian stuff.<p>I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and very practically speaking, if I want to commission art, I want to pay for something that the artist will pour their passion into.<p>It would disturb me if they were forced to create artwork for me under duress, even if I obviously disagree with the reasons they’d prefer not to.<p>Edit: Another aspect I hadn&#x27;t considered - now imagine this ruling is upheld, and imagine artists don&#x27;t have an opportunity to say &quot;no&quot;. As a customer, I now might not even know where the artist stands, and honestly I&#x27;d like the option not to give such artists my business. It also raises questions about whether the finished product could ever be of the desired quality.