Even though I work with everyone from all walks of life, including those who identify as LGBT, Colorado officials have made it crystal clear in my litigation that their law requires me to create and celebrate messages about marriage that go against my faith, the very core of who I am. So I’ve been waiting for nearly six years to create and design websites to celebrate weddings without Colorado forcing me to say something I don’t believe.

And it’s been a long, difficult road. I’ve received death threats and unspeakably hateful messages just because I have a different belief about marriage than others. Hackers seeking to cause me harm attempt to gain access to my website on an almost daily basis. And my family and clients have been harassed and threatened.

But I have pressed on because I’m not just standing for my own freedom to speak freely. Just as I don’t want to be forced to say something contrary to my core convictions, I don’t believe anyone else should be, either. For example, an LGBT designer shouldn’t be forced to create a website promoting the Catholic Church’s beliefs about marriage, and a Democratic artist shouldn’t be forced to design posters promoting the Republican Party. If the government can force me to speak inconsistently with my beliefs, it could force just about anyone to.