DENVER — A baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony must serve gay couples despite his religious beliefs or face fines, a judge said Friday.
The order from administrative law judge Robert N. Spencer said Masterpiece Cakeshop in suburban Denver discriminated against a couple “because of their sexual orientation by refusing to sell them a wedding cake for their same-sex marriage.”
The order says the cake-maker must “cease and desist from discriminating” against gay couples. Although the judge did not impose fines in this case, the business will face penalties if it continues to turn away gay couples who want to buy cakes.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against shop owner Jack Phillips with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission last year on behalf of Charlie Craig, 33, and David Mullins, 29. The couple was married in Massachusetts and wanted a wedding cake to celebrate in Colorado.
The commission is expected to certify the judge’s order next week.
Nicolle Martin, an attorney for Masterpiece Cakeshop, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Phillips had argued that making cakes for gay wedding ceremonies violates his Christian beliefs.
Mullins and Craig wanted to buy a cake in July 2012, but when Phillips found out the cake was to celebrate a gay wedding, he turned the couple away, according to the complaint.
A similar case is pending in Washington state, where a florist is accused of refusing service for a same-sex wedding. In New Mexico, the state Supreme Court ruled in August that an Albuquerque business was wrong to decline to photograph a same-sex couple’s commitment ceremony.
Colorado has a constitutional ban against gay marriage but allows civil unions. The civil union law, which passed earlier this year, does not provide religious protections for businesses.
Put up a sign saying you reserve the right to refuse service for any reason.
OR just shit in the cake.
Ha yea Nottoobitter, that and eat a bunch of good gassy food like beans or something, ya know just smell up the place real good. Of course on second thought that just might turn on them homosexuals or should I say gays.
Who was the judge? It’s time to be naming names in every single story, and checking the list twice to be sure who’s deserving of a lump of coal, you know. 😉
There are lots of ways to serve up cake. I know lots of couples who share their unique way of serving up the first piece from the wedding cake to each other.
. . .
The ACLU and judge Spencer are, by their ruling, claiming contractual ownership of Masterpiece Cakeshop and the owner Jack Phillips.
All Mr. Phillips has to do is ask the ACLU or judge Spencer for proof of contractual ownership. If proof of ownership of said company and Mr. Phillips is not provided, then Mr. Phillips is free to conduct his business any way he sees fit.
This is just another sad case showcasing how more and more of our freedoms are being lost on a daily basis. Any business should have the right to choose to do business or not to do business with any individual for any reason, especially religious beliefs. Maybe the ACLU should next try to have gay rabbis put in all synagogs, and make Islamist restaurants serve all kinds of pork dishes! I don’t understand why anyone would want to do business with a person or company that does not want to do business with them in the first place. I guess I should expect such things in a country where the people are told that an illegal alien is being put in their highest office for eight years despite the peoples’ disapproval.
Heavily lace it with LSD.
With any luck they’ll freak out and maybe start killing each other.
run your business as a private members only and require a membership card to be filled out, list anyone’s membership can be revoked at any time and for any reason.