Jul 30, 2012
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The owner of a Colorado bakery has been accused of violating the civil rights of a gay couple after he refused to bake their wedding cake — and now gay rights advocates are calling for a boycott.
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Jack Phillips, owner of the Masterpiece Cake Shop in Lakewood, Colo., said he has received more than 1,000 angry messages — critics upset because he would not compromise his personal beliefs and bake a cake for Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig.
The couple, set to be married in Massachusetts in September, told television station KDVR they wanted a rainbow-layered cake with teal and red frosting.
They said the owner immediately informed the men that he does not create cakes for gay weddings.
“It was the most awkward, surreal, very brief encounter,” Mullins, 28, told Denver Westward. ”We got up to leave, and to be totally honest, I said, ‘F**k you and your homophobic cake shop.’ And I may or may not have flipped him off.”
But Phillips defended his decision in an interview with television station KCNC in Denver.
“If gays come in and want to order birthday cakes or any cakes for any occasion, graduations, or whatever, I have no prejudice against that whatsoever,” Phillips told the television station. “It’s just the wedding cake, not the people, not their lifestyle.”
Boycott efforts have already been started — with hundreds joining a Facebook page protesting the bakery. An online petition has already generated several thousand signatures.
“We need to send a message to them that in this day and age, bigotry cannot and will not be tolerated,” the petition organizer wrote online. “I’m not sure how the cakes taste, but I know how bigotry and hate tastes and it is disgusting.”
The controversy comes amid national outrage after the president of Chick-fil-A announced that he was “guilty as charged” when it comes to support traditional marriage.
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so if a gay baker decides to not bake a cake for a christian gathering because he does not believe in christianity's beliefs, would that be OK?
private organizations can do whatever they want…..people don't have to shop there. someone else now has the opportunity to make money baking gay cakes. should i have to build a website for a right-wing political group if i hate their views? i hope not.
private organizations can do whatever they want…..people don't have to shop there. someone else now has the opportunity to make money baking gay cakes. should i have to build a website for a right-wing political group if i hate their views? i hope not.
private organizations can do whatever they want…..people don't have to shop there. someone else now has the opportunity to make money baking gay cakes. should i have to build a website for a right-wing political group if i hate their views? i hope not.
private organizations can do whatever they want…..people don't have to shop there. someone else now has the opportunity to make money baking gay cakes. should i have to build a website for a right-wing political group if i hate their views? i hope not.
so can you not serve black people at your restaurant if you don't want to? what's the difference?
i don't know if it's right or wrong… but it has to be consistent… like NBA officiating lol. Christians are the first to complain when they feel "oppressed" in any way… completely ignoring the centuries of oppression against just about every religion and culture throughout history by the Christians, which obviously continues today. When you choose to participate in business in America, you agree to respect USA laws, and your personal beliefs must take a backseat to the law. Not so when you do things privately in your own home or family or church. But in the business world, discrimination should not be tolerated.
i don't know if it's right or wrong… but it has to be consistent… like NBA officiating lol. Christians are the first to complain when they feel "oppressed" in any way… completely ignoring the centuries of oppression against just about every religion and culture throughout history by the Christians, which obviously continues today. When you choose to participate in business in America, you agree to respect USA laws, and your personal beliefs must take a backseat to the law. Not so when you do things privately in your own home or family or church. But in the business world, discrimination should not be tolerated.
sure, why not? all that will happen is that people will stop going to this restaurant and the racist owner then have no money and be rendered powerless in society.
sure, why not? all that will happen is that people will stop going to this restaurant and the racist owner then have no money and be rendered powerless in society.
i don't think i would even want a cake from someone who secretly hated my lifestyle. let the truth and freedom come out!
i don't think i would even want a cake from someone who secretly hated my lifestyle. let the truth and freedom come out!
or his racist town will support him and elect him to Congress… maybe the Civil War was a waste of time and improperly took power away from the states and consolidated that power in the federal govt
on the other hand, gay should have the right to be married because that is government recognition and there is no private alternative.
Daniel Caliri I don't think most people would care about your choice of lifestyle if it wasn't SHOVED down our throats every other day! Does it ever end? If you (meaning the Gay community) don't bother me – I don't bother you – BUT when your "community" tries to strong arm businesses that are MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES – that's another story. Tell me again why this particular bakery was chosen – not in the city of the event?????
Last time I checked private business could refuse service to anyone……..it doesn't matter the reason. The person refused service just goes down the road and finds someone else. No big case if made of it. And certainly not the boycott and ugly name calling..Did the owner really deserve being cursed at?? I think not.
i just realized a flaw in my thinking… there's a big difference between what you make and who you serve. The baker didn't deny service to a gay person, he just wouldn't make something he doesn't make. It's like demanding pizza at McDonalds?
i'm not gay. not that there's anything wrong with that.
people have every right to boycott a certain business just as the business has every right to boycott certain people.
ha ha, Dan, she thinks you're gay lol. Catherine — Dan is married to a woman. And speaking of forcing your beliefs down people's throats, Catherine, have you ever picked up a history book? Christians have been forcing their beliefs down people's throats since the day Jesus died, and continue to do so today. How many indigenous cultures have been raped and destroyed by Christian missionaries in the name of "Our Lord"? And Catherine, your post would have me believe you think it's OK to deny service to a black person or a Hawaiian person simply because you don't like them. You really think that is OK?
ha ha, Dan, she thinks you're gay lol. Catherine — Dan is married to a woman. And speaking of forcing your beliefs down people's throats, Catherine, have you ever picked up a history book? Christians have been forcing their beliefs down people's throats since the day Jesus died, and continue to do so today. How many indigenous cultures have been raped and destroyed by Christian missionaries in the name of "Our Lord"? And Catherine, your post would have me believe you think it's OK to deny service to a black person or a Hawaiian person simply because you don't like them. You really think that is OK?
I think freedom of religion ends when you infringe on someone else's freedoms.
she doesn't even realize i'm more on her side! Catherine Marie Elledge-Pangburn stop over-complicating the free market system. yes your right that a business can serve and make who and what it wants. but people also have a right to disagree with that and put that business in the shitter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBOQzSk14c
Sure. Just like the baker in this instance was free to refuse to serve the homosexual couple. BUT I guarantee you "Christians" will decry "PERSECUTION! They're PERSECUTING US by not baking us a cake!!! Damn them to hell!!!"
my final and very offensive comment: 'If someone should have the right to stick their schlong up someone elses exit hole, then someone should definitely have the right not to have to bake a cake to celebrate it!' …this is actually quoted from GLP.
my final and very offensive comment: 'If someone should have the right to stick their schlong up someone elses exit hole, then someone should definitely have the right not to have to bake a cake to celebrate it!' …this is actually quoted from GLP.
I'm sorry, too many of you people are just morons. And as woefully unarmed as most of you appear to be, a battle of the wits seems unfair. You claim not to be bigots and use words like perverts, deviants (the CORRECT spelling for those of you who aren't so good with letters and such), sissies and queers to prove it, lol. And as much as I hate to sterotype, most of these comments match up VERY WELL to the profile pictures…
Now, excuse me, I have to go take a Tylenol for the headache you idiots have inflicted.
I'm sorry, too many of you people are just morons. And as woefully unarmed as most of you appear to be, a battle of the wits seems unfair. You claim not to be bigots and use words like perverts, deviants (the CORRECT spelling for those of you who aren't so good with letters and such), sissies and queers to prove it, lol. And as much as I hate to sterotype, most of these comments match up VERY WELL to the profile pictures…
Now, excuse me, I have to go take a Tylenol for the headache you idiots have inflicted.
Every normal person in the state of Colorado should order a cake from this guy. It's time to stand up to this nonsense!
Every normal person in the state of Colorado should order a cake from this guy. It's time to stand up to this nonsense!
Civil rights! Where again does ist state you are entitled to a wedding cake in the Bill of Rights?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964
Have a look at this! Interesting, right?
Civil rights! Where again does ist state you are entitled to a wedding cake in the Bill of Rights?
Lets get down to reality…the ones who are truly discriminating are the homosexuals themselves…discriminating against anyone who does not agree with their choices by labeling them as homophobics etc! Last I heard, that is called deformation of character and is subject to lawsuit.
Simply find a bakery that is liberal and agrees with homosexuality and with that agreement…disagrees with God and nature itself.
Rather we believe in homosexuality or not our God is a loving God and a forgiving God . He would not want us to live in a world full of hate , there is only one man and one day that we are to be judged and that day will come when God sees fit . Until then we should love and respect all no matter what their sexual preferences , with this I feel God would be proud
Rather we believe in homosexuality or not our God is a loving God and a forgiving God . He would not want us to live in a world full of hate , there is only one man and one day that we are to be judged and that day will come when God sees fit . Until then we should love and respect all no matter what their sexual preferences , with this I feel God would be proud
Lets get down to reality…the ones who are truly discriminating are the homosexuals themselves…discriminating against anyone who does not agree with their choices by labeling them as homophobics etc! Last I heard, that is called deformation of character and is subject to lawsuit.
Simply find a bakery that is liberal and agrees with homosexuality and with that agreement…disagrees with God and nature itself.
Last time I checked, God created MAN and WOMAN…not Man and Man, not Woman and Woman…maybe a wedding cake made of fruit lops would be more in order. It is the owner's decision NOT to take their order. Last time I checked, King Obama has not started forcing his storm troopers to hold the door open wider for the homo crowd…not yet anyway.
I agree entirely with the comment made in the story…"I don't know how the cake tastes, but I know how bigotry and hate taste and it's disgusting." The only problem is that it's the homosexual community that is carrying on with the hate and bigotry… and it's disgusting. Just can't stand it when someone supports the traditional holy state of marriage.
I read this story today too, Brent. Christians are under attack from every angle. If I lived in Colorado, I would order a cake from them.
speaking of gay cakes…i know someone with a birthday this saterday. maybe i should get em a pink one. lol
Yewwww! No Pink Cakes. Red, Purple, Blue, Yellow, OK…Leave off the orange while ur at it too.
So let me get this right……The people who do not believe in same sex marriage need to be tolerant of same sex marriage, but the people that do believe in same sex marriage get to be intolerant of those who don't have their beliefs? Seems like there is a double standard here? Just something to think about.
"Be kind….for everyone is fighting some kind of battle"….right Holiman? He has this on his FB page. Please fire up your own gray matter and stop using my children being molested to prove your point.
It seems the only intolerance here is by the gay couple. Apparently if you don't agree that the homosexual lifestyle is ok these guys feel it is fine to curse at you, slander you and try to get your business closed. That's as intolerant as it gets.
I'm really tired of any choice that disagrees with the homosexual agenda to be immediately labeled "homophobic". I disagree with homosexuality much as I disagree with promiscuity and adultery and a lot of other behavior I find hurts those who participate in it. That doesn't translate into hatred. The hatred comes when those I disagree with elect to act in a hateful manner toward me.
If you have to call someone names and curse at them to defend your position you need to re-examine your position.
“It was the most awkward, surreal, very brief encounter,” Mullins, 28, told Denver Westward. ”We got up to leave, and to be totally honest, I said, ‘F**k you and your homophobic cake shop.’ And I may or may not have flipped him off.”…… So what happened to the whole we are tolerant and want tolerance mantra of the homosexual community? this fool's response to someone who did not share his beliefs and refused to do business with him shows that there IS NO TOLERANCE in the homosexual agenda… 'you better accept us and do business with us and bend to OUR way of life or we will boycott you and your business… we will curse you and flip you off if you don't ' THIS is the attitude of the gay agenda.. they demand tolerance and acceptance of THEIR beliefs but extend none to anyone who does not share them. That is the definition of HYPOCRISY…. so it can then be said that the homosexual agenda is one of hypocrisy and INTOLERANCE of others that wont bow down and bend to the gay lifestyle….and this can be proven by the actions of the gay dude who cursed this business owner and flipped him off… and this ain't the first time gays have forced their beliefs on others because they do not accept or support a DEVIANT lifestyle…other business owners have been put out of business by the oh so TOLERANT gay community that are running around demanding understanding and tolerance yet give none themselves. So I suggest everyone support the bakery owner and send in orders or donations to help his business… because it is just a matter of time before some scumbag lawyer smells money in the sir and convinces these two homosexuals to sue… just watch… it will happen. and why? because this business owner did not share in the belief system of a deviant lifestyle.
Most restaurants post that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. If the gay guys don't like it, they can go to another bakery. The bakery owner is within his rights and the gay guys need to move on.
If I lived in Colorado, I would give my business to Jack Phillips. We will not be bullied into giving up our values. I hope they try to use this as an election issue because they'll lose 60% to 40% at least. North Carolina passed their traditional marriage amendment by an overwhelming margin. That took a whole bunch of democrats to pass by a margin that wide.
If I lived in Colorado, I would give my business to Jack Phillips. We will not be bullied into giving up our values. I hope they try to use this as an election issue because they'll lose 60% to 40% at least. North Carolina passed their traditional marriage amendment by an overwhelming margin. That took a whole bunch of democrats to pass by a margin that wide.
I don't allow liberals to get jobs at my place of business. They cannot wash my car, wait on me at a restaurant, or collect my garbage. They cannot teach my kids in school, or be in contact with my kids in any fashion. You cannot preach at my church, you cannot buy my house or rent. If you are gay, you are a liberal, and you fall in that category. Sorry, it's just a matter of integrity, as liberals are porn.
That's one of the stupidest things I've read in a long time.
I weep for the future with people such as this spewing their hate
What happened to a business having the right to refuse service? I have no issue with gay people, but I do have an issue with those who insist on constantly putting their 'gayness' in everyone's faces and feel that everyone should accept their beliefs while stomping on the beliefs of those who don't. Tolerance is a two way street.
There are a whole lot more Christians than gays so in order to nullify the boycott we need Christians to give them some more business.
I applaud the bakery for standing up for their beliefs! We all need to be that brave. Gods' laws come first. If we choose not to follow Our Lord in this life, we sure won't be with Him in the next. Unfortunately, there are some people that seem to be going out of their way to divide this nation even more & want attention.
Why has noone addressed the issue of the bakery owner's right to decline to serve whomever he choses?
He should be able to say " I do not want to serve you", He is not some government enitity that has to serve everyone!
Again, hate coming from the left is unreal. You cannot force someone to change their beliefs by bullying and hate speech. This goes for both sides.
Again, hate coming from the left is unreal. You cannot force someone to change their beliefs by bullying and hate speech. This goes for both sides.
I don't understand what you're all complaining about. The guy is free to discriminate against homosexuals all he wants but he has to be prepared to accept the consequences which in this case is a boycott. To me it sounds dumb, most people become bakers so they can sell baked goods to make money not so they can use cakes to make political points or express religious beliefs. If this guy wants to use baking to express a message then don't be surprised when people choose not to buy your cakes based on disagreement with your message.
The business has a right to decide for whom they will make wedding cakes. To many people a wedding/marriage is a religious ceremony and making a cake would be going against their beliefs. You will find that belief in other religions besides Christianity. It is suspicious they chose that bakery if they knew the owner was a Christian. That doesn't mean I believe any business has a right to discriminate against a particular group of people as that leads to racism, etc. I certainly do not agree with the bakery owner's choice. If I had been in that situation, I simply would have thanked the owner for his time and left. I would then call other bakeries to determine who would make us a wedding cake. Simple.
The business has a right to decide for whom they will make wedding cakes. To many people a wedding/marriage is a religious ceremony and making a cake would be going against their beliefs. You will find that belief in other religions besides Christianity. It is suspicious they chose that bakery if they knew the owner was a Christian. That doesn't mean I believe any business has a right to discriminate against a particular group of people as that leads to racism, etc. I certainly do not agree with the bakery owner's choice. If I had been in that situation, I simply would have thanked the owner for his time and left. I would then call other bakeries to determine who would make us a wedding cake. Simple.
What I am getting from the more liberal-minded commenters is that religious liberty doesn't matter anymore because religion isn't real. Being that religious liberty (and thus freedom of consciounce as well) was a founding principle of our country, I find this fact very disturbing. It seems to me like the bulk of bigotry in America these days is directed squarely at religion.
AS WELL IT SHOULD BE…when Religion is trying to force itself into everyone's bedroom and underwear, it needs to be reigned in a criticized relentlessly for the claims that it makes which are based ENTIRELY based upon "Faith"–the belief and HOPE in things that are UNPROVEN AND UNPROVABLE.
Get your baked goods in Assacheusettes since that is where your union ceremony is taking place. Maybe Buddy from Cake Boss will bake you a couple of cake balls for the occasion.
I agree with Ms. Hartman…and isn't this still American with the freedom to buy and sell to whom we want to?
yes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964
Once again we are allowing around 4.6 % of the population to tell the rest of us what is right or worng and its their way or the highway. The gladd people can kiss my feathers.
I completely agree with Jack Pillips' values and his right to do business with whom he chooses.
Way to go Jack.
I completely agree with Jack Pillips' values and his right to do business with whom he chooses.
Way to go Jack.
Another example of an activist making a point and someone else's expense….There is no harm here and a Judge will throw it out. The couple can get a cake elsewhere. Besides, the owners did not build the company denying the service, someone else did so who will the couple sue?
It has nothing to do with what the baker beleives in. We all most follow the law. What about a Southern fast food place who will not service blacks. It the law dummy, I could care less about your personal feelings on weddings, you bake for one, you bake for all……. That's the Law! (unless you think you can break mans law and becuase gods law said you can, in which case you can go to jail until God calls you.)
I support this business owners' right to refuse business to anyone whose lifestyle contradicts his Christian Beliefs. Leave the guy alone and get your cake elsewhere.
I applaud the owner for standing up for righteousness. 1 Cor 6:9-11 explains what God's word has to stay about sin.
As a business, you provide a service. Once you start picking and choosing who to provide services for, say bye bye to your business. He can be anti gay rights all day, but these will easily bankrupt him.
Would it be safe to say that if a group of straight couples went to a gay bar or establishment and were obviously not gay that they would be treated the same. I would suggest the straight groups would not make plans to return and be the end of the story – No media reports – No protests. How could that be?
GOOD FOR HIM! WE AS CHRISTIANS NEED TO STAND UP MORE OFTEN FOR WHAT IS "GOD'S LAW"! TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IS GOD'S LAW…NOT MAN'S!
big·ot·rystubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
Looks like the gay couple are bigots too by definition.
big·ot·rystubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
Looks like the gay couple are bigots too by definition.
HURRAY for the business standing up for THEIR RIGHTS. Gays now believe that they deserve everything normal people have. Time to shut them down and pass a NATIONAL law outlawing gay marriages.
too bad your cousins weren't forbidden as well
The owner of the bakery admitted that he would not change his ideas about baking a cake for two gay people. He has every right to do that. AND, people who support gay marriage have every right to boycott his business. Since the owner has admitted his unpopular action has jeopardized his business and accepts that, what is the big deal here? People choose to boycott business for a large variety of reasons, some because of conservative values, some because of liberal values. This is our right, just as it's the right of this business owner to make his own decision.
The owner of the bakery admitted that he would not change his ideas about baking a cake for two gay people. He has every right to do that. AND, people who support gay marriage have every right to boycott his business. Since the owner has admitted his unpopular action has jeopardized his business and accepts that, what is the big deal here? People choose to boycott business for a large variety of reasons, some because of conservative values, some because of liberal values. This is our right, just as it's the right of this business owner to make his own decision.
I don't understand why people are so upset with the boycott. This is the way a free society works. As a private business owner, he has the right to say he will not bake a wedding cake for a gay couple (inter-racial couple, Latvian couple…whatever) and the couple, and people who agree with the couple, have the right to boycott. He won't bake, we won't buy. Same for Chik-fil-A. The owners' have a right to their opinions and those of us who do not agree with them have a right to not support thos ebusinesses.Simple. American.
I don't understand why people are so upset with the boycott. This is the way a free society works. As a private business owner, he has the right to say he will not bake a wedding cake for a gay couple (inter-racial couple, Latvian couple…whatever) and the couple, and people who agree with the couple, have the right to boycott. He won't bake, we won't buy. Same for Chik-fil-A. The owners' have a right to their opinions and those of us who do not agree with them have a right to not support thos ebusinesses.Simple. American.
Why does it always boil down to Gays vs Christians? I am not a Christian and I would say that one does not have to be Christian in order to know right from wrong. And if you will not admit to yourself that the gay lifestyle is totally wrong then you are lying to yourself.
Michael – Why is it "wrong?" Who says it's "wrong?" It might not be for you but no one is making you be a homosexual.
They use words like hate and bigotry but in reality – who are the ones that are espousing hate? You read what this moron said and did to the shop owner. There is a warped attitude that if we don't compromise our values – then we are the enemy and they can attack us. We the majority need to stand up and say enough is enough….. I hope this bakery is overwhelmed with supporters and his business goes through the roof from those of us who applaud his position.