Baker fined for refusing to make transgender transition cake

[DonViejo]

Source: CBS News/AP


JUNE 17, 2021 / 7:38 AM / AP

Denver — A Colorado baker who won a partial victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violated the state's anti-discrimination law by refusing to make a birthday cake for a transgender woman, a state judge has ruled.

In Tuesday's ruling, Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones said Autumn Scardina was denied a cake that was blue on the outside and pink on the inside to celebrate her gender transition on her birthday because of her transgender status in violation of the law. While Jack Phillips said he could not make the cake because of its message, Jones said the case was about a refusal to sell a product, not compelled speech.

He pointed out that Phillips testified during a trial in March that he did not think someone could change their gender and he would not celebrate "somebody who thinks that they can."

"The anti-discrimination laws are intended to ensure that members of our society who have historically been treated unfairly, who have been deprived of even the every-day right to access businesses to buy products, are no longer treated as 'others,' " Jones wrote.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colorado-baker-jack-phillips-transgender-transition-cake/

[Omnipresent]

1. Who really cares about this baker?

Even if he did agree to make that cake, he would probably spit in it, and still make a profit by selling it to you.

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. You have a point, but people who discriminate need to be punished in some manner.

I wouldn't want to give that POS one penny for his services.

[cstanleytech]

16. There are other ways to punish the baker though such as boycotting their business and any company

that knowingly does business with them.

[Ferrets are Cool]

27. We are in agreement. I was not clear enough in my explanation.

[DonViejo]

3. A lot of people care. This is the same baker that went to the Supreme Court to get a decision...

supporting his "right" to refuse baking a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Supreme Court rules in favor of baker in same-sex wedding cake case
JUNE 4, 2018 / 5:06 PM / CBS/AP

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-baker-who-denied-same-sex-couple-a-wedding-cake/

[moose65]

29. Yep

But it seems like he was looking for controversy, too.

I mean, if I was a business owner like him and didn't want to bake the cake, I could think of a million other things to say:

"Oh, I am so sorry but I already have ten cakes to do that week. I can't take on another one."

"I apologize, but I will be on vacation that week and won't be able to do it."

He seemed to welcome the controversy and went out of his way to make a big deal out of the fact it's a "gay cake."

[Jedi Guy]

30. Yeah, I never understood that, either.

As you said, all he had to do was say, "I'm sorry but I'm crazy busy and just won't have the time. I recommend Blah-blah Bakery, they do very good work." Boom, done. No one has to go to court and everyone goes home happy.

[DonViejo]

31. Bigots like to flex their muscles, especially if they're peddling their...

understanding of their God's opinion on the issue(s). They also have a love affair with their own martyrdom, "standing up against the gays."

[Haggard Celine]

4. In one sense, I agree that he shouldn't

be allowed to discriminate, but on the other hand, I would be glad to know he's a bigot, because I wouldn't want him to get any of my money. So I likely wouldn't say anything about it if he refused to bake a cake for me, although I would tell other GLBTs. But it is good that he can be sued for this. As far as I'm concerned, that fine is just an asshole tax.

[DonViejo]

5. He's not the Lone Ranger on the issue of refusing to bake cakes for LGBTQ community members...

This guy and his Supreme Court (repeatedly taken out of context) decision have inspired many bigoted bakers to deny services.

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. There's a danger in giving the Right too much red meat to chew on

I think the left have to pick their battles.

I understand the concept that there is a level of discrimination in a business owner refusing to accept money for service based on their views from years of religious cult brainwashing.

On the other hand, I thought we believed in Consequence Cancelling. In that if a business owner makes a decision not to service gay people...or....black and brown people, long haired men and short haired women, people he pegs as Democratic voters, etc....and word gets out, and he also loses the business of Democrats, as well as all other folks that hear about it, and disagree with him, then he is the one suffering in the end. He is called out and ends up losing his business because of his own bigotry.

If it can be interpreted by the Right as a privately owned business being forced to take on work they don't want to do for personal moral reasons, forced to "sin" because the evil Godless State told them they have to, then that is a risky way to go IMO. The amplified backlash on RW media would drown any gains from the technical win. It certainly isn't the best way to convince them, and R voters in general, to sympathize and support the LGBTQ community in the long run.

If I was LGBTQ and a baker refused to take my money specifically because of my sexual orientation, I'd not want to use that business anyways. The idea of forcing, a hatful bigot to make my celebratory cake for a hopefully happy day, is not something I'd feel comfortable with. Rather give him a piece of my mind, walk out, and then publicize his bigotry on SM, and then tell all my friends causing even more lost business for him.

[cstanleytech]

17. Well, would you want to buy a cake from someone that is willing to bake it or

someone that is forced to bake it? I would go with the one that is willing to rather than one that is forced to as you do not know what the one that is forced to do it might do to the cake.
No, what I prefer is that people boycott such assholes and other such businesses and also consider boycotting any business that knowingly does business with them and let those other businesses know that you are boycotting them.

[11 Bravo]

18. I wish I could rec, this just for "asshole tax" alone.

[Skittles]

22. if they discriminate they should be required to put that on their window / website

WE DON'T SERVE TRANSGENDER FOLK.....that way *ALL* of us non-bigots can decide not to shop there

[Haggard Celine]

23. That's a good idea!

If he's going to be a dick, he should be required to own his dickishness, whether on the shop door or in advertisements. He knows it would kill him, though, which is why he handles it like he does.

[Skittles]

24. you got that right

inevitably, they're not just bigots, they are COWARDS too

[LiberatedUSA]

10. Good.

We want them to be that stupid.

Anyone that goes through with this, would likely have the cake tested anyway, as they would likely consider the possibility of revenge. If it is proven the cake has been contaminated, then they’ll lose their business to the customer in the civil suit.

So by all means, let the baker make a cake and think they’ll get even by spiting, peeing or otherwise sabotaging it.

[PatSeg]

13. I certainly wouldn't trust a baker

to make a cake for me if he opposed my marriage. Meanwhile, I think businesses have a right to refuse service to some people, but in doing so, they often pay a heavy price with the public. If you want to run a successful business that involves actual customers, it is best to leave your politics and religion at home. If you don't, you will undoubtedly get exactly what you deserve.

All publicity is NOT good publicity.

[demigoddess]

19. agree, a law should force them to put a sign in their window stating that

they do not serve gay, transgender etc etc, so the other customers can choose to do business with them or not. I bet they would not support other people making choices on their beliefs.

[PatSeg]

21. Oh yes, that is perfect!

If you are bigot and don't want to serve all customers, that is fine. Just post it so everyone knows. If that ends up hurting their business and livelihood, well I guess maybe they may need to rethink their belief system or go down as martyrs.

[Skittles]

25. yes

it needs to be required that they state IN their premises AND websites who all they refuse to serve, so ALL of us non-bigots know where NOT to shop

[PatSeg]

26. Yep

I've been in lots of restaurants and bars with signs saying, "We reserve the right to refuse service to...........", then just fill in the blanks. Then they can be as intolerant and bigoted as they like, but we don't have to contribute to it. It would save them a lot of legal fees as well.

[keithbvadu2]

6. Would he bake a cake for divorced people with a still-living first spouse?

Would he bake a cake for divorced people with a still-living first spouse?

To most 'Christians', mainstream and evangelical, the Bible is a buffet of tales and can be cherry-picked at will.

Believe the parts you like and ignore the rest.

One major example of that is divorce.

Jesus was very specific and vocal about divorce, remarriage, and adultery.

There are very few churches that practice what Jesus spake.

The sanctity of Holy matrimony for conservative Christians - Kim Davis

[JohnnyRingo]

7. ☆☆☆☆

[oasis]

15. I was overcome by laughter with the SNL portrayal of Kim Davis

years ago. "She" even made an appearance with the SNL cast at the end of the show.

[moose65]

28. Of course he would!

That's my problem with people like Phillips. I'm sure he doesn't cross-examine and get a list of the "sins" of everyone who walks through the door.

[Politicub]

8. The people trying to push the envelope have a poor sense of timing.

The Supreme Court is coming down on the side of religious bigotry. Each time LGBT folk try to make a twee point, by asking a weirdo conservative bakery to make a cake, it’s another opportunity for a lawsuit to go the Supreme Court.

The judiciary is hostile to LGBT rights right now. While justice delayed is justice denied, justice denied is also justice denied.

[jmowreader]

9. I don't get it

By now, everyone who doesn't fit into Jack Phillips' view of the world knows what he's like. So...why go there? Lakewood is a suburb of Denver, and in the Denver metro area there are several bakeries who make cakes just as good as Phillips' creations.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

20. Because what he has done is wrong.

He shouldn't be allowed to continue his hateful business in our country.

Russia is a better place for him and his ilk. He can serve Snowden and Segal.

[Polybius]

32. It's likely done on purpose

They knew he wouldn't make it, and wanted to get him in trouble or sue him.

[Crowman2009]

11. Well if that's the case, I need to start a competing bakery that makes LGBTQ+ related cakes.

Although I will not make cakes for Nazis, Trump supporters, alt-right, KKK, etc. How about I call the place "No Hate Cakes"?

[Initech]

14. Is there only one cake maker in all of Colorado?

[MichMan]

33. My guess is that the customer deliberately went to him just to poke him in the eye with a stick

[VarryOn]

34. I wouldn't want an atheist baker (if one exists) to be forced to make a Christmas or Easter cake...

Just leave this poor fool alone and find another cake maker. Hell, I bet even a Walmart bakery would make a transgender cake.

I think this was done in bad faith by Scardina. They keep setting this guy up. Not a fan of this approach.