A judge ruled Friday against a Colorado
baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.
Administrative law judge Robert N.
Spencer told suburban Denver-based Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack
Phillips that he must serve all customers regardless of sexual
orientation or face fines.
Phillips last year refused to consider
baking a cake for Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig, who have since
married in Massachusetts and held a reception in Denver. Phillips
said that serving the couple would violate his religious faith.
Colorado recognizes gay and lesbian couples with civil unions, not
marriage.
The couple sued, claiming that
Phillips' faith does not give him a right to discriminate.
Spencer ordered Phillips to “cease
and desist from discriminating” against gay couples, but did not
impose a fine.
Phillips' attorney Nicolle Martin told
the AP that Phillips “can't violate his conscience in order to
collect a paycheck.”
“If Jack can't make wedding cakes, he
can't continue to support his family. And in order to make wedding
cakes, Jack must violate his belief system. That is a reprehensible
choice. It is antithetical to everything America stands for,” she
said.
Martin would not say whether an appeal
was in the offing.
Phillips previously stated that he
would rather shutter his business of 20 years than support same-sex
marriage.
“If it came to that point, we would
close down the bakery before we would compromise our beliefs, so that
may be what it comes to. We'll see,” he said, adding that it was
“nothing personal” against gays.
“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. It's just the
wedding cake – not the people, not their lifestyle,” he said.