Judge Orders Colo. Cake-Maker to Serve Gay Couples

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

DENVER December 7, 2013 (AP)
By IVAN MORENO Associated Press

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.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-orders-colo-cake-maker-serve-gay-couples-21129319

[GreenEyedLefty]

1. Not sure I'd want to buy a cake from them. nt

[Heather MC]

3. Exactly,

If he did make the cake, if I were them, I would watch him make it.

[jamzrockz]

11. I had to think about what you meant in your post

I had to think about what you meant in your post, but then I got it. Same here

[tofuandbeer]

2. Why would any same sex couple even support the shop now?

Besides, I'd be leery of what the bastard might do to the cake.

[Heather MC]

4. I wouldn't give him dime, nor trust him not to DO something to the cake

Sneezers anyone
yuck

[tofuandbeer]

14. That's what I was thinking. :O

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

5. I find this case silly

No gay couple (or really any couple) should patronize this idiot. Other than getting the name out there so other people realize this, why would anyone sue to force him to make their cake?

[AAO]

6. If their intention is to hurt the baker

they went about it the right way. The bad press over this will not just turn away GLBTQ, but any supporter of equal rights for all human beings. No doubt in my mind this jerk will feel some pain in his pocketbook.

[Skittles]

7. no non-homophobe should patronize such a place

[DonViejo]

9. They didn't sue in order to have the cake made,

rather, they sued to have the baker stop discriminating against LGBT couples. I seriously doubt members of the community will be rushing to this baker to have their wedding cake designed and made by him.
We must learn to live together as

[mahatmakanejeeves]

22. My thought too.

It's an important distinction.

The baker cannot be required to bake same-sex couples a cake. What he cannot do is deal with SSM couples, in the operation of his business, in a manner that is different than the manner in which he would treat different-sex couples. Outside of business, he can vote against equal marriage rights or contribute to candidates or organizations that oppose equal marriage rights all he wants.

Like others, I don't see why same-sex couples want to throw their money at him.

[Heather MC]

15. Prehaps it's about setting a precedent to prevent discriminations of this type in the future

Marriage Equality i happening so cases like these will pop up all over. so the sooner a precedent is set for defeating this form of discrimnation the better.

But I wouldn't want them to make my wedding cake

[riversedge]

17. It was to prevent discrimination in the future........

......."At first blush, it may seem reasonable that a private business should be able to refuse service to anyone it chooses," Judge Spencer said in his written order. "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."

ACLU attorney Amanda Goad said no one is asking Phillips to change his religious beliefs.

"But treating gay people differently because of who they are is discrimination, plain and simple," she said."

[christx30]

20. "I'll be happy to make a cake for these people...

But I'll have you know that I plan to donate 100% of the proceeds of this cake to an anti-LGBT group. Is the one that Dan Cathy supports accepting donations right now?"

[RoccoR5955]

10. This is big stinking bovine fecal material!

This is just like things were in the 50s and before, with "coloreds."
WTF is going on in this country any way?
Are these bass turds de-evolving into Neanderthals?
Doesn't the damn cake maker know that we live in a society where people are equal?
And WTF does his damn religion have a rat's testicle to do with serving someone a cake?
Sheesh, does this garbage get me angry!

[DinahMoeHum]

12. I'd rather have people boycott that guy's business.

Dumb ruling by that judge.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. We can haz both.

[JusticeForAll]

16. Nah not dumb at all

Thanks to the ruling, I now know which cake maker not to go to...and will advise friends of it, too.

[reACTIONary]

18. Regulations against discrimination are...

...a form of societal boycott.

[reACTIONary]

19. Regardless of the consequeces for this particular baker...

...it serves as a warning shot across the bow for any other business that might attempt to discriminate.

[gopiscrap]

23. wecome to DU