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Pro-gay activists have launched a boycott of an Iowa baker who declined to create a wedding cake for a lesbian couple based on her religious beliefs.
Victoria Childress, the owner of Victoria’s Cake Cottage in Des Moines, has been accused of being anti-gay, homophobic, and a bigot after she refused to make a cake for Trina Vodraska and Janelle Sievers.
Childress told Fox News & Commentary that she made five cakes for the couple to taste – unaware that they were lesbians.
“She introduced herself, and I said, ‘Is this your sister?’” Childress said. “She said, ‘No. This is my partner.’”
At that point Childress told the couple that she would not be willing to make their wedding cake.
“I was straight-forward with them and explained that I’m a Christian and that I have very strong convictions,” she said. “I chose to be honest about it. They said they appreciated it and left. That was all that was said.”
But that wasn’t the end of the story. Soon Childress began receiving hateful emails and then – the local media called.
Vodraska told KCCI that she was offended by Childress.
“It was degrading,” she told the television station. “It was like she chastised us for wanting to do business with her. I know Jesus loves me. I didn’t need her to tell me that. I didn’t go there for that. I just wanted to go there for a cake.”
The pair also released a statement, calling the Christian cake baker a “bigot.”
“Awareness of equality was our only goal in bringing this to light, it is not about cake or someone’s right to refuse service to a customer,” they wrote in a statement posted on KCCI’s website.
The Iowa Civil Rights Act was amended in 2007 to include protections for sexual orientation. The couple told the television station they had not decided whether they would file a Civil Rights complaint against the baker.
A spokesperson for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission declined to confirm or deny whether they’ve launched an investigation.
State law only allows exemptions from discrimination laws to a bona fide religious institution.
Childress said her decision had nothing to do with discrimination or the lesbian couple.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with them – it was about my convictions,” she stressed. “They can get their cake anywhere.”
Childress said money is not the issue.
“I’m being attacked because of my beliefs – my convictions to their lifestyle,” she said.
Childress said she stopped reading the hate mail.
“It’s really hard to read things like that,” she said. “I’m a pretty quiet, soft-spoken person. But when I stand up for my convictions against things, I’m very strong when it comes to that.”
She said she’s received a positive reaction from local business owners – along with some cake orders.
“People are telling me they were proud of me for standing up for my beliefs because not many people do that these days,” she said. “Business people are afraid to because they’re afraid to lose money.”
But there have been plenty of critics – even among some of her competitors.
“To have someone say, ‘Well, I’m sorry because your lifestyle is different from mine, I’m not going to take care of you and help you. And I don’t want your business,’ it’s wrong on so many levels,” said Dana Schaub, a local baker told KCCI.
Childress said she was simply stating her belief.
“I was not rude,” she said. “I was not condescending. It was matter-of-fact. I told them, ‘I’m sorry, I just can’t do that.’”
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If they were so offended and degraded then why bring it to the attention of the media? What is happening to Christian rights?
I hope this woman goes out of business.
Yeah! Let's send money to someone who discriminates. That makes so much sense and is what our lord would want us to do!
She absolutely has a right to her convictions. thereby refusing to bake for the couple. Conversely, I absolutely have a right to avoid her bakery at all costs and encourage others to do the same. Ain't America grand?
She absolutely has a right to her convictions, thereby breaking the law when refusing to bake a cake for the couple. This act then gives the couple the right to file a complaint and seek whatever remedies are available under the law.
Jesus hung out with the sinners not the people like this. Jesus would not approve of such hate. I guess people forget that he was not a hateful person…funny how they use his name to spread hate…
Just to put it out there, since so many of you seem confused by the matter.
Holy matrimony and civil marriage are two completely different things. Atheists for example take part in civil marriage every day in this Country.
Christianity or any other religion for that matter has absolutely zero say in civil marriage laws, by all means keep your holy unions… same sex couples for the most part don't want to take part in them anyway. I'll put it this way:
Which of these situations would actually get a person married.
Going to their local city hall or court house and marrying, all while pledging zero church involvement.
or
Going to their church and marrying, all while pledging zero government involvement.
Spoiler alert: It's the first option!
Like it or not marriage is first and foremost a civil institution and with Americans being provided equal protection under the law, it's only a matter of when and not if The Supreme Court declares same sex marriage bans as unconstitutional.
Everyone is born a sinner. It is not the sin that makes a person a sinner EVERyONE is a sinner because they are born a sinner. There is only one unpardonable sin….and it's not homosexUality. Jesus was the friend of sinners. Where is sin abounds grace abounds much more.
While I see both sides int he the right and wrong, I do see that Childress could have done something else because as someone who servers their customer, she did inconvenienced them. If I were here I would have made suggestions of other bakers who WOULD serve them. Then again, maybe the couple should have asked her if she knew any bakers that would.
While I personally would serve anyone who would come into my potential shop (within reason), it is Childress's choice not to serve them. Then again, This IS FOX, so I shouldn't be surprised that the article is not very objective.
who will serve*
What would Jesus do? The same thing, and with the same amount of love. She doesn't hate anyone. She is simply acting on her faith. This baker was right. Religious freedom is a right in America. And Secondly,
the reason we Christians warn people not to practive homosexuality is because we are taught in the Holy Bible that it goes against God's plan and will lead to eternal punishment: Leviticus 18:22, Romans chapter 1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. It is actually an act to love, not bigotry to warn someone of punishment. We love the sinner, because all of us are sinners. But we do not love the sin. Becaue our faith tells us we can't. But you've got to read your Bible to really get that and you must also give your life to Christ. Something most people won't do. So they'll just go for the easy answers, the popular politically correct notions or trends. That's why we pray for our nation and for those who haven't surrendered their lives to Christ. Please pray for those who are supporting homosexuality and practicing it. Let's face facts: today, it's Christians who are being attacked and bullied for our faith.
What's the meaning of "Equal rights"? If there is a law that would allow the lesbian to force someone to bake their cake, what about that person's rights.
Her "rights" are limited by the law. She accepted these when she opened a business. Was she in business before the law went into effect?
Happy Birthday David! May the Lord protect, bless you on this special day!
Happy Birthday David! May the Lord protect, bless you on this special day!
This just in… Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and president of Facebook is an atheist (this part is true), told the media that effective next year he will be permanently terminating the Facebook accounts of all christian users. Zuckerberg states that he has strong convictions, does not agree with the immoral christian lifestyle, and christians are free to go to another social networking site. Zuckerberg was not available for further comment.
This just in… Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and president of Facebook and an atheist (this part is true), told the media that effective next year he will be permanently terminating the Facebook accounts of all christian users. Zuckerberg states that he has strong convictions, does not agree with the immoral christian lifestyle, and christians are free to go to another social networking site. Zuckerberg was not available for further comment.
By the way, I'm not associated with Academy of Art College. That's a typo basically. Please direct any hate mail to me personally. But I love you. Happy Thanksgiving.
Is there a difference between "Conviction" and "Hate" in today's world? Refusing service to someone because you believe what the person is not right is not hateful. Ones offer services to others even they hate them. which one is better, do something you don't feel comfortable with jut for the money, or tell the truth, expressing how you really feel about it?
Wondeful, Victoria…I'm behind you 101% Just wish I could buy all my cakes from you but the distance is prohibitive! Of course you will get "hate mail" — anyone who voices strong Christian beliefs today is considered a bigot, a hate monger…so was Christ considered such. You travel in good company, Girl! God bless.
sure, she can act on her prejudice and choose to discriminate and refuse to serve the sectors of the public she feels superior to – but it will come with a cost. It is not legal for her to refuse service based on prejudice against lesbians, just as it is not legal for her to refuse service for jews, blacks, women, hispanics, muslims, etc. based on a personal prejudice. she can act on her dislike for a class of people, but is ridiculous for believing that she is above the law simply because of her personal choices.
The "Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965" prohibits discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education. Discrimination, or different treatment, is illegal if based on race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, physical disability, mental disability, retaliation (because of filing a previous discrimination complaint, participating in an investigation of a discrimination complaint, or having opposed discriminatory conduct), age (in employment and credit), familial status (in housing and credit) or marital status (in credit).
She broke the law, and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Albert Pellecchia ….. you say the ICR Act of 1965 "prohibits discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education" ….
The baker did not refuse ANY of those things … there is no protection in that law for a PRIVATE business to refuse service … everywhere you go you will see signs like "no shirt, no shoes, no service" … individual owners of private businesses CAN legally refuse service to anyone. And it is a PUBLIC situation that calls for no discrimination ….. but a private business owner CAN discriminate … meaning, they can pick and choose their clientele without breaking any laws.
Candy Watkins Alford "Public accommodation" means each and every place, establishment, or facility of whatever kind, nature, or class that caters or offers services, facilities, or goods for a fee or charge.
A business open to the public is not a private business.
It is NOT true that a business owner can legally refuse service to anyone. That is precisely what the laws prevent.
I believe God wants his followers to show that we believe His Word, not only in speaking about it, but in our ACTIONS as well, this dear business lady is truly putting action to the words that she is reading in God's Word, when HE says that such a union betweeen two of the same sex is a sin, then it's a sin. Those aren't our words, those are GOD'S WORDS. If anyone doesn't believe it's so,……we'll check back with you 2 minutes after you die……..I guarantee you'll believe it then!
IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO AREN'T AFRAID TO TAKE A STAND! I AM SO PROUD OF HER. HOPE HER BUSINESS TRIPLES. GOD BLESS HER AND GOD BLESS THE USA.
"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone".
http://www.shopzeus.com/product_images/zeusd1-BAPR-24217389.jpg
Regardless of what is posted, businesses are subject to the law. Such a sign is understood to refer to inappropriate, disturbing or dangerous behavior.
I was encouraged to see a business woman doing the loving thing. Yes, it is a loving act to accept the persons as Jesus commands us to do. Never the less, Childress does address the main issue: Who is she loyal to. She stuck to her personal conviction! Takes courage to do that. Praise God for her.
Charlene Wiggins, Williamsburg, Va.
May I order a cake via the internet and have it shipped to me? I'd be happy to stand with a sister in Christ and support her business.
It's tiring to hear about everyone else's rights! Glad to see someone standing up for their beliefs! We'll be placing an order to support this business.
I wonder, would the left be so outraged if this had been a Muslim caterer who had refused a customer's request to serve pork?
Why would a Muslim caterer refuse to serve pork? He might refuse to eat pork, but that should not stop him from serving pork.
Jeff Fuchs He would have to touch the pork.
Jason Eric Muslims may not eat pork. They are not prohibited from touching it. At least not that I know of. And he could have someone else prepare it. If a practicing Muslim caterer offers pork as an option, he obviously would not refuse to serve it. If he doesn't offer it, then he wouldn't be serving it. Your example is flawed. A caterer need not prepare every imaginable food. The appropriate comparison is a caterer who refuses to serve a customer. That's what this baker did — she refused service.
Jeff Fuchs Then what you know is wanting. Muslims cannot touch pigs or their meat. The example is not flawed and if this baker had had someone else make the lesbians' cake, she still would've been thrashed for it. But fine – what if a Muslims caterer refused to provide service to a Jewish customer because of religious reasons. Again, no one on the left would've ever complained.
Jason Eric Ask all the what-ifs you want. The baker in the article refused service based on sexual orientation in violation of the state's civil rights law. As for your what-if — you've on way of proving that no one on the left would complain. What if the Jewish customer who was refused service was on the left (whatever that means)? When that customer complains, does that count as a complaint by someone on the left?
And what does your hypothetical baker-thrashing have to do with anything that you previously proposed? Are you saying that her refusal to personally bake the cake would be the subject of a complaint, or even a lawsuit? Hardly. She would, in effect, be subcontracting the request and in doing so would not be refusing service or to provide goods.
Are you dancing around the idea that Christians are persecuted in this country?
Jeff Fuchs So what do you propose? That Childress be arrested and jailed and her business shut down? All because she refused to make a couple people a cake?
The civil rights amendment only covers policies concerning hiring and treatment in the workforce, especially in the government. It never addresses customer service. If people don't like her service, they shouldn't come back. Furthermore, this is an attempt to impede on her rights to deny any support of homosexual marriage. The first amendment upholds her freedom of affiliation. It is sad to see people use the Constitution selectively.
Clark Lindsey, you are wrong. First off, there is no civil rights amendment but there are civil rights statutes. Here is the URL of Iowa's: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/ACO/IC/LINC/Chapter.216.html
You will find the prohibition to deny or refuse service or to otherwise discriminate in section 216.7.
You are right that if they don't like her service, they need not come back — indeed, they can walk away. But if she denies them service then she runs afoul of the prohibition of denial or refusal section. And if she gives them lousy service, she runs afoul of the otherwise-discriminate section.
Nor is she being forced to support same-sex marriage. She is only being asked to bake a cake. She could then donate the money to an organization that opposes same-sex marriage. To assert that she is being forced into supporting something that she clearly opposes is to misconstrue the facts.
And there is no impact on affiliation — she can still affiliate with whom she wishes and she need not affiliate with anyone she wishes not to affiliate with. Doing business is not affiliation.
If she were asked to bake a cake for a kkk hate crime gathering that said something to the effect of "White Power" would that be acceptable, especially if she was against everything the kkk has to offer? Giving business is definitely a form of affiliation. Drug lords are affiliated with druggies, construction workers with the state, when hired of course, and bakers with those they make cakes for, especially wedding cakes.
This law seems to me, though i am not currently authorized to dispute it, to violate the First Amendment. Regardless of what this law states, I still disagree with you due to my own personal beliefs and logic. I find that most political arguments are based on definitions, and we disagree with how the word affiliation is defined in the Constitution, which is what i try to base my politics off of as well as my religion, which gives foundation for morals, and thus is worthy of consulting in moral dilemmas. I agree that to follow the law of the land is just and correct, but I also feel obligated to encourage others to follow the same moral standard as I try to uphold (not to force them, but to ask and present my beliefs as an option, as well as to listen to theirs.) When we disagree, I live my way and you live yours as long as neither of our ways disrupt the life of the other. That is the meaning of tolerance. I am still waiting for homosexuals to tolerate the rest of the country that disagrees with them, because tolerance is mutual. Otherwise it is just being trampled on, which I, nor any good, self-respecting person can tolerate.
Clark Lindsey How about if she were asked to by the kkk to bake a cake, without all the rest of the deck-stacking rhetoric? Or, how about sticking to the facts of the case at hand?
Clark Lindsey Your second response is well written and well thought out. Civil protest against laws that are felt unjust have an honored place in our country.
But we needn't concern ourselves with how the word "affiliation" is defined in the Constitution until we can find where it is in the Constitution.
….Lesbians wanting a cake. How queer!
ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING.
My wife & I are Christians & former business owners of a thrift type store in a rather small community.
in OHIO. We had our radio set to the local christian station & it played during our business hours.
We had countless members of the gay & lesbian community frequent our store & we always greeted.
everyone with a warm greeting & a smile. Everyone knew exactly who & what we stood for because.
we projected the love of Christ to everyone. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. One day we left the store.
to pick up some furniture & forgot to lock the door, we were gone for several hrs. when we returned.
we noticed one of our customers standing in front of the door with several other people, who we.
assumed were waiting on our return, as it was still early in the day. When we went to unlock the.
door the woman said that it was unlocked & that she had been standing guard sense we had been.
gone. She had come in as we were gone & said there were people in the store walking around so.
she waited for everyone to leave & stood by the door not allowing anyone else to enter. This was
one of the lesbian couples we had been witnessing to for quite some time. We later found out by.
her own confession that she was raised in a christian home & was giving up on her lesbian life.
style. Praise God! As Christians our great commission is to witness to all, but if we refuse to witness.
(reguardless of ones lifestyle) then we ourselves are nothing more than hypocrites. Christ ate with.
sinners often & the hypocrite pharisees pointed there fingures & later crucified Him. Was I condoning.
there lifestyle by selling them goods? No! that's why we were in business to sell to the public. But you
can belive we witnessed to everyone as the opportunity presented itself. as a matter of fact, allot of.
people came in just to talk.. Bottom line_______As there is a separation of church & state, so should.
there be a separation in church & business. In business your selling to the public, ALL PUBLIC.
I do realize there are a few exceptions to the rule. The public does have to act accordingly to Co.policy.
The public should be treated alike. If you want to pick & choose then you should not have opened to.
the public but rather sold your goods out of your house. What's next…..if your not a christian you can't.
come into our churches? Where is the LOVE of CHRIST? no matter where we are or what we're.
doing we are ambassadors of Christ, When, When are we going to actually be what we are called.
to be. Christ also said: Let you who is without sin cast the first stone & First go & remove the PLANK.
from your eye so that you can see to remove the SPECK from your brothers eye. What do you do in.
the corner, in the dark when no one is looking? Pornography, Drunkard, Lust of the eye, Pride of life,
Foul language, Quick to anger, Little lies………….These people have soules…what about their soules?
someone told you about Christ' Love, who will tell them if we refuse to serve them.
To everyone wanting to send money to her, any money you send will end up in these lesbo's pockets.
when she is successfully sued for breaking the law. She should have made herself aware of state.
and federal laws before starting a business. It's her business but even business owners must abide.
by state and federal laws, and if you break the law then you open yourself up for a lawsuit.
wow this thing is still being talked about?
wow this thing is still being talked about?
AHHH I GUESS THAT WAS 10 DAYS AGO
AHHH I GUESS THAT WAS 10 DAYS AGO
I really hope they win the lawsuit. Beliefs should be kept outside of one's workplace.
As jesus was working in his dads woodworking shop…Jesus was good at making signs out of wood. One day a lesbian walks into the shop and says…Jesus please make us one of those wonderful signs you make…" "Sandra and nadine forever in wedded bliss."
Jesus would have said , have you not heard what scripture says…marriage is for a man and woman? He then could have said…do not tempt the lord thy God to do evil by partaking in this abomination! Get behind me satan. I don't think Nadine would have got her sign. Believe me I don't think Jesus would have agreed that she had a RIGHT to pervert the moral law of God, or change it.
VICTORIA keep making those wonderful cakes and to hell with what some homopervert says to you about a boycott. I think as soon as anyone knows about this the homoboycott could work opposite of what they want.
Remember, all christians and hetrosexuals who care about society…boycott all homosexual places and anytime yuou see a homosexual working in a restaurant etc. walk out. I have walked out of a number of restaurants and a local home building supply store..
does she serve muslims? Where does she draw the line?
civil rights? rubbish. there should be no law that this lady needs to agree or support amoral behavior. these girls are having a tantrum like the whole movement in general. they want to eliminate morality, it's not about rights!
She's being asked to bake a cake. She's a baker. She is being asked to bake a cake. She needn't agree with anything. She needn't support anything. She is being asked to bake a cake.
They want to eliminate morality? Are you saying that antidiscrimination laws will result in your no longer living a moral life? That does not follow. They can have their cake and you can live your life.There is no conflict.
Jeff Fuchs: The cake is central to the wedding, she obviously isn't going to support this event in any way. They could have bought the cake elsewhere and said nothing. Instead, they are creating conflict. They (and you?) call it discrimination, and talk about legal action in order to redefine marriage and in essence, erase the morality which protects it. Society will crumble if the family bound by traditional marriage continues to be erroded…partners "recognized as married" will be small consolation in that grim day.
Jeff Fuchs: The cake is central to the wedding, she obviously isn't going to support this event in any way. They could have bought the cake elsewhere and said nothing. Instead, they are creating conflict. They (and you?) call it discrimination, and talk about legal action in order to redefine marriage and in essence, erase the morality which protects it. Society will crumble if the family bound by traditional marriage continues to be erroded…partners "recognized as married" will be small consolation in that grim day.
Ben Eggleston You are going way beyond the facts of the case. They asked a baker to bake a cake. She refused to bake the cake. If the refusal was because the patrons were gay, then she violated the law. If the refusal was because the cake was going to be used for a wedding ceremony that she disapproved of a court will have to decide if they provides a valid exception to the anti-discrimination statute.
Whether we view this as a refusal to a gay person or a refusal to support the wedding, it is discrimination. Call it what you will, this is a discriminatory act.
The rest of your comment is unprovable and irrelevant to the legal issue, particularly since same-sex marriage is not a threat to different-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage has been crumbling for years. Find the cause elsewhere.
To those who praise or approve of the action of Ms Childress, consider this:
The Catholic Church recognizes as valid only those marriages conducted according to its rules. Only Catholics can marry in the Catholic Church. Thus, any cohabiting couple that did not have a Catholic marriage are, in the eyes of good Catholics, fornicators living in sin.
If you are planning a non-Catholic wedding and a baker who is Catholic refuses to provide a cake for your wedding because of your sinful lifestyle — well, what say you?
Say another couple walks into the cake cottage and as she is getting there bio information, finds out they are living together…will she refuse to serve them?
WOW! It is like "I am a pen producer, and because of my personal convictions, I refuse to sell my pens to people who write with their left hands". Of course, she has the right to refuse service to anyone, but the pro-gay activists also have the liberty to warn any gay or pro-gay couples not to buy a cake from her because she is not going to sell them. Let's make this straight: she does not want to do business with those gay people, so please tell them to avoid her bakery. Stop calling that "boycotting", it is too strong a word.
It appears, from the article that the motive of the baker was to simply communicate her convictions to deny "participation" (offering her baking services) to a same-sex marriage ceremony. It was not to extend the love of Christ through developing a friendship with these girls.
In light of this, maybe she could have communicated her beliefs to the couple and then give the lesbian couple the opportunity to take their business elsewhere; if they choose to. Once this information is given to the couple, I'm sure they would have taken their business elsewhere and this whole story would sound quite different. Be as gentle as a dove and wise as a serpant. This baker's story has helped me to be better prepared if I ever find my self in a similar situation. I appreciate everyone's thoughts…keeps us thinking.
Beautifully written and well thought out. Had she indicated that she would bake them a cake but would prefer not to, the couple would have had no complaint.
Does she bake cakes for divorcees getting remarried?
Chris, some early 2001 Trivia for you. January 25, 2001. You and I were in Eagle River, working at Andy's house. You forgot or lost a key to your trailer and we were at SBS. You decided to cut the lock with a pair of channel lockers, and purchased a new lock. I looked at the lock you just cut and sized it up, and that's what transpired on January 25, 2001. Two days prior to that, there was a heavy snowfall. You picked me up for work. I heard a loud banging on my door. I was a sleepy head, crawled out of bed and shuffled to your SUV. That was one week prior to me buying that 2000 Chevy, AWD Astro Van. I had good times with it and it still is serving me faithfully!
LMAO @ Fred……….hey best friend, what does that have to do with the Christian Baker who refused to make a cake for a Lesbian couple?????
Helen DeStefano LOL, nothing. Absolutely nothing. You know how I am; my mind will interject something, out of the blue…. just to remind someone of what transpired, many years ago.
Helen DeStefano LOL, nothing. Absolutely nothing. You know how I am; my mind will interject something, out of the blue…. just to remind someone of what transpired, many years ago.
I do know how your mind works fred! lol!
FACTS:
lesbians 900,000 0.32 %.
only.32% total population of the United States. Want to imposse their.
believes. Bringing fear and lawsuits, paying a lot of money to politicians and lawers.
to make laws. There it is no democracy. Is all corruption. They want to imposse.
their believes.because if not is hate. Because if the people don't want to stand for.
their believes then they are criminals and have to pay lawsuits and jail. They want
to imposse fear to change our minds. They want to stop us believe in what God.
want. They are lost in their own desires. If not we can go to jail and fear.
Now people is afraid to defend their.
believes. This religion is getting more powerful every day. And because money is.
involve, fear is involve and hate against the people that don't accept it. Why in
California after not accepting the gay marriage one single judge revoke it later.
not counting all the millions of people and votes. They are just doing were ever.
they want and people don't say nothing for fear.
Perhaps the judges haven't ruled in favor of Prop 8 in California, because it's *gasp* unconstitutional?
That was easy enough… like it or not one of the reasons the court system exists, is to stop things like tyranny of the majority at the expense of the minority.
People aren't allowed to vote on the civil equality of others, the fact that people even want to is horribly anti American.
This whole thing could have been avoided, if the baker had simply done her job.
I'm vegetarian and abhor the meat industry, find it incredibly inhumane and cruel… prior to The tornado in Joplin I was the night manager at a local grocery store. Do you think I liked having to go behind the meat counter and prepare various cuts of meat for customers after the butchers left for the night? No I hated every second of it… went completely against my values and my convictions, but it was part of my job so I did it with a smile on my face and without hesitation.
Now some would say it's not the same thing, to that I say nothing makes her convictions and her values anymore important than mine and working with and sometimes for people who you don't like or agree with is par for the course when you choose to work with the public.
Also to various people on here who have claimed that people choose to be gay lesbian or transgender, how arrogant each and every one of you are.. to think that you know more about us than what we know about ourselves.. to think you know more than the health and mental health industries, both of which lean toward them not being a choice.. to think you know more than millions of people who claim they in no way shape or form choose this… the arrogance is appalling. My only choices were killing myself or transitioning to being my true self. I choose life and being myself in spite of what people like you think about me and am now happy for the first time ever.
Why would someone choose to be persecuted? Why would someone choose to denied jobs and/or promotions simply for whom they are or choose to love? Why would someone choose to potentially get beat up simply for walking down the street and coming across the wrong person?
The answer is that they wouldn't choose any of this, no one would. With all due respect none of you were around when I lay in bed every night as a teenager and cried myself to sleep because I knew something wasn't right. None of you were there when I spent day after day.. week after week month after month and year after year wanting nothing more than to die. None of you were there when I felt so hopeless that I nearly drank myself to death one night and confided in my best friend tearfully about how no one understood. None of you were there when my father told me that he was worried about walking in on me dead one day…..
Some have stated that there's no proof that any of this isn't a choice, to that I counter with the following.. there's no proof that it is either and in the absence of proof one way or another… the experts in the health field who tend to lean toward it not being a choice and the people living it themselves tend to carry a heck of a lot more weight than people whom have made it clear will discriminate against LGBT people and cling to any and all possible straws in order to do so.
Where do I send a check to support this boycott…..
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death. Exodus 35:2
I hope none of you bible thumpers has ever worked on sunday!
I live near this area, and have never heard of Victoria's Cake Cottage. I think that I will now become a loyal customer for her!
It's NOT about hate – it's about having your opinions and not being discriminated against because your opinions don't fall with "popular" secularism. Live and let live…only God can pass judgement.
there are many incidences like this now years ago it was not done society has become so depraved!
If it wouldn't cost a fortune to send letters to the US, this woman would receive so much hate mail from me and others that still have a functional brain, that has not been brainwashed.
How sad of u. ….U have been brainwashed. I will pray for u.
John Caruth No, I have not. I have listened to all around me, people of different religions, and made my choice. I bet you all had been Christian since the moment you were born and your parents decided that they are going to raise you to be intolerant and hateful. I pity you.
Also, there's kids starving in Africa and you're sending money to some woman that stood up for her religion? You're so lame and self-centred.
send her a supporting email:
vgchildress@hotmail.com
And next: NAMBLA is suing her for refusing to decorate cakes to their specifications? I thought in America a business has the right to refuse service to anyone.
Michele Keller The 'right to refuse to service' people was meant for example, so that bars can refuse to admit people that were already drunk, not that somebody can be hateful and discriminate people for no good reason.
Michele Keller The 'right to refuse to service' people was meant for example, so that bars can refuse to admit people that were already drunk, not that somebody can be hateful and discriminate people for no good reason.
I am a stone cold atheist….but also a Libertarian who's respects people individuals rights…and this Woman has the perfect right to make the call she did with her property and person. I disagree with her reasons….but I defend her right to hold them and stand fast to them.
I got banned from "I bet we can get one million people to say they are proud to be an Atheist" for saying
This comment is funny because there are multiple cases in the bible where they do celebrate everything mentioned in this post. I guess that was okay because God said it lol.
Then I pasted this right below in quotes just like I am here.
"It isn't about cake. It is about participating in celebrating something immoral. We don't participate in "celebrating" murder. We don't participate in "celebrating" adultery. We don't participate in "celebrating" theft. Childress refused to participate in "celebrating" something she knows to be immoral in the eyes of God. You go girl!"
I got banned for making fun of the woman's quote and her homophobia because one kid named Rick Pitre didn't read my post and just started at me like I wasn't making fun of it. If you see this can you post to the cake story on their wall again since they don't seem to check their hotmail to fix my banishment and when I PM Rick Pitre to fix what he started I just get ignored.
And THIS is why rational, compassionate people are leaving Christianity. The Christian faith exudes more hate, bigotry, and ignorance than people can stand. We don't care why you don't like gay people or blacks, and just because your particular superstition has a particular tenet, doesn't mean we have to respect it or you. I hope they sue her for violation of civil rights under IA law.
Wow, looks like this issue has been blown out of proportion. This business owner has the right to refuse her service to anyone she pleases. Just like every other business in this country does, regardless of the reason. I don't think baking the cake would have been considered a sin but this defintely didn't violate anyones civil rights, that's hilarious. Obviously, the owner felt like baking the cake would have in some way ment she agreed with this partnership, which I think she made it clear, she does not. And I don't think we need to bring the race card in on this subject. Grouping gays and blacks together and comparing their struggles, well that's just wrong. Racism has nothing to do with this and people should think before they make those types of comments. I do take offense that someone wrote Christians do not like gay people or blacks. As a Christian myself, I love everyone.
Blake Rogers. Seriously? When you make the statement," the owner has the right to refuse service to anyone she pleases" are you basing that one some sort of fact or are you just saying what you think it true? Not only does it violate IA law, but it may violate federal law as well. Can I as a business owner turn Christians away from buying food, gas or clothing? Of course not, but when the shoe is on the other foot, you all have no problem discriminating. If you find the concept of violating civil rights by refusing service "hilarious", I suggest you actually do some reading before you write, as the article linked even lists IA law regarding this issue. The case law on point for this issue are the same cases used for discrimination against blacks, Jews, Catholics, etc. If you are offended, you might want to consider getting better beliefs. Hiding behind your religion does not protect you from rational criticism, it only protects you from your conscience. Perhaps you ought to do some reading and thinking before making comments, it's not like Christians have opened their arms to gay people or ANYONE not Christian for that matter.
Also, anytime you want to post this "right" to refuse service to anyone for any reason, I would be very interested in reading it.
Jeff Poleet, is seems my mouth has gotten me in trouble once again. After taking the time to read and educate myself, per your advise, I have found that I was wrong. It does appear that refusing to serve this couple was a breach of their civil rights and a discrimination. I always thought that the signs posted in stores saying they can refuse the right to serve anyone, were actually true. It appears they are not. The rational criticism in this case is warranted. As for my beliefs they are based in Christianity and my conscience is fine. It seems I have a friend who forgives me for my sins whenever I want to ask.
I told you your religion protected your conscience. I know you are a Christian, Blake, I grew up with you in the same Church. I know you as a good guy, someone I would tell other people is a good person, but I question the things we were taught in that Sunday School room, because I can't find any good in those teachings. Treating people like 2nd class citizens because of a religious teaching is not moral, no matter what the law states. That should have been a happy day for those people, just like it was for you and me Blake, and our spouses. I'm glad you can find forgiveness so easily in life. Me on the other hand, I have to be very careful about the causes I support, as they go on my permanent record. "Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." -Steven Weinberg
Well, I believe you are a good person to bro. Although we don't agree on religion I do agree that their are lot of things going on in this world that aren't right or dignified. I just hope people don't judge all Christians by the actions of a few bad apples. Anyways, I know you have a new addition to the family and I hope things are going well with you all. If you ever get to Jtown, holla. It would be good to catch up.
Religion…the most divisive force on earth. Sad!
You still on about religion? Your not getting a place on the ark!!!! Lol
True Christians must fear God and set Biblical laws on their premises.This lady did right thing refusing those dykes service.
If you can refuse to give a birthday cake to a little boy because his name is Adolf Hitler Campbell, then it should be fine to refuse to give a "wedding" cake to a filthy dyke couple.