Overview
- Louisville agreed to pay $800,000 to photographer Chelsey Nelson to cover her legal fees, ending their years-long court fight.
- City officials said the settlement closes the case without weakening the Fairness Ordinance, which bans discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
- Chelsey Nelson sued in 2019 with backing from Alliance Defending Freedom, arguing the law would force her to create wedding photos and blog posts that conflict with her religious beliefs.
- A federal judge later awarded her $1 in nominal damages and ruled the city could not bar her from stating she will not photograph same-sex weddings.
- The Supreme Court’s 303 Creative decision influenced the case on appeal, and reactions split as ADF called it a free-speech win while LGBTQ-focused outlets emphasized that Louisville will keep enforcing its protections.