Christian Baker Forced To Make Cake For Gay Couples – Update
Baker Jack Phillips was ordered by a judge last year to make cake for gay couples, which Phillips had refused to do because of his religious beliefs. Last month he filed an appeal.
The decision by the judge was reinforced by the Civil Rights Commission of Colorado – Phillips must now submit quarterly reports for two years to show how he’s changed his “discriminatory practices.”
“Any person doing business in Colorado has to recognize that they have to do business in an ethical and law abiding way and the law says you cannot discriminate,” stated Raju Jairam, vice chairman of the commission.
And what of our First Amendment law that says Phillips has free-speech rights and free-exercise rights?
The ACLU is involved in the case against Phillips: “We at the ACLU very much support religious freedom, but religious freedom doesn’t mean that somebody who has a business has the right to discriminate against members of the public who want to patronize the business,” stated Mark Silverstein from the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado.
Where do you stand with the 1st Amendment rights of an individual as it might conflict with the discrimination of others?
Nearly two years after a same-sex couple was refused service at a Colorado cake shop, a civil rights panel on Friday deemed the act discrimination and ordered the owner to halt the practice.
The state’s seven-member Civil Rights Commission reinforced a December ruling from an administrative law judge who said Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips discriminated against Charlie Craig and David Mullins when he refused to make them a wedding cake because of religious objections.
In its decision, the panel required Phillips to submit quarterly reports for two years that show how he has worked to change discriminatory practices by altering company policies and training employees. Phillips also must disclose the names of any clients who are turned away.
“Any person doing business in Colorado has to recognize that they have to do business in an ethical and law abiding way and the law says you cannot discriminate,” said Raju Jairam, vice chairman of the commission.
Craig and Mullins filed charges of discrimination with the state’s Civil Rights Commission in July 2012 after they were turned away by the Lakewood baker while trying to buy a cake for a wedding reception.
Colorado law bans discrimination in a public place on grounds of sexual orientation, but Phillips has argued that forcing him to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples violates his right to First Amendment free-speech and freedom-of-religion rights.
Phillips and his attorney are considering an appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals. He suggested on Friday that the rights of business owners with similar views were taken away by the commission.
Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cake in Lakewood, decorates a birthday cake Thursday, January 3, 2012. (Lindsay Pierce, Denver Post file photo)
“Not all of life is fair,” Phillips said said after the commission’s decision. “I will stand by my convictions until somebody shuts me down.”
Craig and Mullins said the panel’s decision validated everything they had been feeling. The couple said they have been inundated with support from people across the country since their story became public.
“When it came time to file the lawsuit we realized that this wasn’t just about us and they weren’t just supporting us as individuals,” Mullins said. “They were supporting the idea that gays shouldn’t be discriminated against in public accommodations. We felt like the best way we could honor what they had done for us was to follow this through. It hasn’t always been the easy road, but I believe we’ve been on the right one.”
In his December ruling, administrative law judge Robert N. Spencer said offering the same services to gay couples as it would heterosexual couples did not violate the cake shop owner’s right to free speech or prevent him from exercising his religion.
The judge ordered the cake shop owner to “cease and desist” from discriminating against same-sex couples. He said the fact that Colorado does not recognize same-sex marriage does not excuse discrimination based on sexual orientation. Colorado allows civil unions.
“At first blush, it may seem reasonable that a private business should be able to refuse service to anyone it chooses,” the judge wrote. “This view, however, fails to take into account the cost to society and the hurt caused to persons who are denied service simply because of who they are.”
Spencer said the cake shop owner’s argument “would allow a business that served all races to nonetheless refuse to serve an interracial couple because of the business owner’s bias against interracial marriage.”
The conservative Christian organization Alliance Defending Freedom appealed the ruling in January by arguing that the government was “attempting to force Jack to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs and to compel him to speak a message that is contrary to his actual beliefs.”
Nicolle Martin, attorney for Masterpiece Cakeshop, called the ruling disappointing.
This whole incident is about power, a bunch of fags, backed by anti-American activist judges will break the law to tower over decent law abiding Americans.
If I were gay I would have more pride than to go to seine who doesn’t support my perverted life style. I would not go to a Christian church and expect them to marry me either. They love to push the button. When Islam rule takes over this country because of these liberals no one will have to consider the gays anyway. They will be killed because Allah won’t allow it. You won’t even have the opportunity to convert. You liberals are to ignorant. Come Lord Jesus.
Like there was nobody else to make their cake??? I’m so tired of people using whatever card they want to use to try and make people do what they don’t believe in!! N why not of government lets them!! POS!
And his rights are not being infringed upon? Oh I forgot they are his religious beliefs A business owner is suppose to have the right to refuse service to anyone they choose.If it were Muslims wanting to throw down their prayer rug and cause traffic jams or whatever they would rule in their favor because if their religeous rights. I praying we get this liberal here’s out of power.They are ruling against every facet of our American lives.One more reason to stay out of that liberal corrupt state.
They could of easily gone to another shop. But no, they’ve git to make an issue out of this and force their beliefs onto everyone else. So we can’t have our beliefs but you can have yours. What’s right about that. These gays doing this are hateful and really just big cry babies. No everyone in the world will never believe the same thing…get over it and act like an adult not a spoiled brat.
THEY LOOK STUPID STANDING THERE
I say if you don’t like how he does his shop then go somewhere else
This whole incident is about power, a bunch of fags, backed by anti-American activist judges will break the law to tower over decent law abiding Americans.
If I were gay I would have more pride than to go to seine who doesn’t support my perverted life style. I would not go to a Christian church and expect them to marry me either. They love to push the button. When Islam rule takes over this country because of these liberals no one will have to consider the gays anyway. They will be killed because Allah won’t allow it. You won’t even have the opportunity to convert. You liberals are to ignorant. Come Lord Jesus.
I have not one problem “upsetting the left”…. You know… Some people CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH! 😉 and they are known to be Liberals!!!!
Like there was nobody else to make their cake??? I’m so tired of people using whatever card they want to use to try and make people do what they don’t believe in!! N why not of government lets them!! POS!
freedom of association is more important than “equality”
Actually, in CO he doesn’t. Obviously, the court has spoken…. I would like to be there when they cut that cake and serve it.
And his rights are not being infringed upon? Oh I forgot they are his religious beliefs A business owner is suppose to have the right to refuse service to anyone they choose.If it were Muslims wanting to throw down their prayer rug and cause traffic jams or whatever they would rule in their favor because if their religeous rights. I praying we get this liberal here’s out of power.They are ruling against every facet of our American lives.One more reason to stay out of that liberal corrupt state.
They could of easily gone to another shop. But no, they’ve git to make an issue out of this and force their beliefs onto everyone else. So we can’t have our beliefs but you can have yours. What’s right about that. These gays doing this are hateful and really just big cry babies. No everyone in the world will never believe the same thing…get over it and act like an adult not a spoiled brat.