Colorado Court Rules in Favor of Gay Couple Vs. Wedding Cake Baker

Dave and Charlie in Denver wanted a wedding cake for their reception. Masterpiece Cakeshop said (to paraphrase), "No, we don’t believe in supporting your gay lifestyle that way."

The guys took it to the Colorado courts.

The cake is one of the most important elements to any wedding.  Even if it's two men getting married, they want a cake too!  In 2012, the owner of Masterpiece Bakeshop said he wouldn’t provide Dave and Charlie a cake for their special day because his religious beliefs go against homosexual marriage.

Sure, he’d whip up some cupcakes, some brownies, even a lovely birthday cake.  Anything but a wedding cake.

You can say he has the right to refuse service, sure. Like those signs you see at bars-- ‘We reserve the right to refuse service to anybody.’  The gay couple, however, sued. The bakeshop owner’s lawyers defense was that his 1^St Amendment right gives him the privilege to refuse service.

But the courts disagree with that argument.  After an appeal, the court stands by the Civil Rights Commission’s decision, stating that the bakeshop owner was violating Colorado’s public accommodation law. That law says that businesses are REQUIRED to serve customers regardless of their sexual orientation.

My bet is that the bakeshop owner is looking for a new law team. I mean, if the law clearly states that he can’t refuse to make them a wedding cake because of his religious beliefs, why did his lawyers take his money to bring it to the courts?

I think it’s good to get it clear on WHY the business cannot refuse service. The bakeshop owner does indeed have the 1^st Amendment right to say that he does not believe in gay marriage.. .but he does NOT have the right to not work for people who don’t agree with his freedom of speech.

[Source: ABC7News]