A Colorado baker with long-held Christian beliefs who was just ordered by the state’s Civil Rights Commission to abide by a judge’s order and make cakes for same-sex partners said no — that’s not going to happen.
“I’m not going to make cakes for same-sex weddings,” said Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, in The Blaze. “That violates my First Amendment speech … and my duty as a Christian abiding by my Savior.”
Mr. Phillips’ cake-baking business hit national headlines months ago when he refused service to a gay couple, Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig, who wanted to wed. The two men took their discrimination accusation to the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a lawsuit on their behalf.
Judge Robert Spencer with the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts ruled that Mr. Phillips must serve the same-sex couples. On the heels of that March order, Mr. Phillips stopped taking cake orders.
He appealed his case to the state Civil Rights Commission, which just ruled in the judge’s favor.
On Fox News on Thursday, Mr. Phillips decried that ruling and said his Freedom of Religion rights were being pushed to the side. His attorney, Nicolle Martin, agreed and said the order that Mr. Phillips is supposed to now abide by not only requires him to serve same-sex couples — against his religious convictions — but also to take special sensitivity and anti-discriminatory training.
Mr. Phillips’ elderly mother, who works at the bake shop, is supposed to take the training, also, Ms. Martin told Fox News.
Mr. Phillips is now considering an appeal.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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