Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/22pdf/21-476_c185.pdf
Page Number: 45

Cite as:  600 U. S. ____ (2023) 

13 

SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting 

against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoy-
ment  of  the  goods,  services,  facilities,  privileges,  ad-
vantages, or accommodations of any place of public accom-
modation.”  42 U. S. C. §12182(a).

Not only have public accommodations laws expanded to
recognize more forms of unjust discrimination, such as dis-
crimination  based  on  race,  sex,  and  disability,  such  laws
have also expanded to include more goods and services as 
“public accommodations.”  What began with common inns, 
carriers, and smiths has grown to include restaurants, bars,
movie  theaters,  sports  arenas,  retail  stores,  salons,  gyms,
hospitals, funeral homes, and transportation networks.  See 
nn. 1–2, supra; L. Lerman & A. Sanderson, Discrimination 
in Access to Public Places: A Survey of State and Federal
Public  Accommodations  Laws,  7  N. Y. U.  Rev.  L.  &  Soc. 
Change 215, 217 (1978) (“ ‘Public accommodations’ is a term
of art which was developed by the drafters of discrimination 
laws  to  refer  to  [public]  places  other  than  schools,  work 
places, and homes”).  Today, laws like Colorado’s cover “any 
place of business engaged in any sales to the public and any 
place offering services . . . to the public.”  Colo. Rev. Stat. 
§24–34–601(1);  see  also,  e.g.,  Ohio  Rev.  Code  Ann. 
§4112.01(9).    Numerous  other  States  extend  such  protec-
tions to businesses offering goods or services to “the general
public.”  Ariz.  Rev.  Stat.  Ann.  §41–1441(2);  see  also,  e.g., 
Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 272, §92A. 

This  broader  scope,  though  more  inclusive  than  earlier 
state  public  accommodations  laws,  is  in  keeping  with  the
fundamental  principle—rooted  in  the  common  law,  but
alive  and  blossoming  in  statutory  law—that  the  duty  to
serve  without  unjust  discrimination  is  owed  to  everyone, 
and it extends to any business that holds itself out as ready 
to serve the public.  If you have ever taken advantage of a 
public business without being denied service because of who 
you are, then you have come to enjoy the dignity and free-
dom that this principle protects.