As a Squarespace website designer I support free speech but…

There is a case going to the Supreme Court regarding a website designer in Colorado who refuses to design websites for same-sex marriages. I believe in free speech, but I do not believe in choosing who you work with based on sexual orientation.

CNN described the case as: “On one side of the dispute is the designer, Lorie Smith, whose business is called 303 Creative. She says she has not yet moved forward with an expansion into wedding websites because she is worried about violating a Colorado public accommodations law. She says the law compels her to express messages that are inconsistent with her beliefs. The state and supporters of LGBTQ rights respond that Smith is simply seeking a license to discriminate in the marketplace. Four years ago, the court considered a similar case involving a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, citing religious objections.”

At Little Ox Workshop, I decide who I want to work with. That is my right to accept and refuse work agreements at my discretion. I do not place a blanket block on a type of person or business that I will and won’t do business with. Each prospective client is a case-by-case decision for me.

But this case being decided on at the Supreme Court is not an easy one to take a side on in my opinion. Suppose that a group that promotes White Supremacy wanted to hire me to build a website. I would not want to work with them. But freedom of speech protects those who want to believe in White Supremacy as much as same-sex couples. As much as I disagree with Smith’s decision, it’s her right to refuse to work with anyone she deems is not aligned with her beliefs.

It’s a slippery slope for sure. According to the United States Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 defines “protected classes,” and Title II of this act prohibits discrimination against Sex, Religion or Religious Beliefs, Race or Color, Age, National Origin or Status of Citizenship, Veteran Status and Disability. But this currently does not include Sexual Orientation.

As a website designer it’s important to work with clients who share a similar belief system with you as a way to deliver success. Sometimes I can tell from a sales call that the person on the other end is not seeking the type of website that my brand is known for, which is clean, minimalist sites that drive action. I will typically not work with these types of clients, but in some cases I still might depending on whether or not I can deliver a product that they deem a success. As a creative professional working with clients who do not have the same vision as you is part of the business. We are not always going to have ideal client types. 

I don’t agree with Smith’s viewpoint on same-sex marriages, but it is not my right to tell her who she chooses to work with. As a fellow website designer, I side with her right to refuse service. There are plenty of website designers who proudly design websites for same-sex marriages, so the consumer also has that freedom of choice. My opinion of Smith’s philosophy is just that, an opinion. Until the Court decides whether of not sexual orientation is one of the protect classes under the Federal Civil Rights Act, Smith should be allowed to conduct her business in the manner that she chooses.

As a son of immigrants, freedom of speech is one of the reasons that my parents decided to become United States citizens. In China, the Communist regime does not allow freedom of expression. In America that right is one of the key tenants of our identity as a nation.

While I don’t like that any business would go out of their way to predesignate exclusion to a certain group, I still believe that website designers, specifically, can exclude certain types of industries by simply focusing on a specific niche and becoming known for that. Oftentimes that will draw in the audience that the web designer wants and it’s more of a positive way to work exclusively with a specific type of business.

At the time of this article’s publication, the Supreme Court appears to be poised to side with Smith’s right to refuse service to same-sex wedding websites. I’m going to chicken out and not give my decision on whether it's wrong or right at this point as I can see both sides of the argument from a legal point of view. That said, I wholeheartedly can say that Little Ox Workshop welcomes clients of all types and works with all races, religions, sexual orientations and generally wants to work with individuals who are kind and respectful.

Don’t exclude. Include.

Attracting the right customers should be an inclusionary move. Showcase the types of clients you do work well with and the people who feel aligned with you will seek you out. Speak so loudly with your actions that you don’t have to explicitly state who you work with and who you don’t. Your brand tells the story.