Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/17pdf/16-111_new2_22p3.pdf
Page Number: 8

Cite as:  584 U. S. ____ (2018) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

in  Their  Civil  Rights,”  which  guaranteed  “full  and  equal 
enjoyment”  of  certain  public  facilities  to  “all  citizens,” 
“regardless  of  race,  color  or  previous  condition  of  servi-
tude.”  1885 Colo. Sess. Laws pp. 132–133.  A decade later, 
the General Assembly expanded the requirement to apply 
to  “all  other  places  of  public  accommodation.”    1895  Colo. 
Sess. Laws ch. 61, p. 139.

Today,  the  Colorado  Anti-Discrimination  Act  (CADA)
carries forward the state’s tradition of prohibiting discrim-
ination  in  places  of  public  accommodation.  Amended  in 
2007  and  2008  to  prohibit  discrimination  on  the  basis  of 
sexual  orientation  as  well  as  other  protected  characteris-
tics, CADA in relevant part provides as follows: 

“It is a discriminatory practice and unlawful for a per-
son, directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from, or 
deny to an individual or a group, because of disability, 
race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital sta-
tus, national origin, or ancestry, the full and equal en-
joyment  of  the  goods,  services,  facilities,  privileges,
advantages, or accommodations of a place of public ac-
commodation.”  Colo.  Rev.  Stat.  §24–34–601(2)(a) 
(2017). 

The Act defines “public accommodation” broadly to include
any  “place  of  business  engaged  in  any  sales  to  the  public 
and  any  place  offering  services  . . .  to  the  public,”  but 
excludes “a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place that
is principally used for religious purposes.”  §24–34–601(1). 
CADA  establishes  an  administrative  system  for  the
resolution  of  discrimination  claims.    Complaints  of  dis-
crimination in violation of CADA are addressed in the first 
instance by the Colorado Civil Rights Division.  The Divi-
sion investigates each claim; and if it finds probable cause
that  CADA  has  been  violated,  it  will  refer  the  matter  to 
the  Colorado  Civil  Rights  Commission.  The  Commission,