Credit: CBS
Another cake maker, this time in Colorado, was sued for refusing to provide a cake for a same-sex wedding celebration. Judge Robert N. Spencer ruled that Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop discriminated against the couple based on their sexual orientation, and would be fined in the future if he ever refused to provide a cake to another same-sex couple again. He wrote, “At first blush, it may seem reasonable that a private business should be able to refuse service to anyone it chooses. This view, however, fails to take into account the cost to society and the hurt caused to persons who are denied service simply because of who they are.” So the law can force a man to violate his conscience just so someone else’s feelings don’t get hurt? What about Jack Phillips’ feelings? Should the law protect him from feeling bullied by the government? Surely his feelings are hurt at the prospect of having to close his business. I don’t see his feelings being taken into consideration. And finally, Jack Philips is not denying them service “because of who they are,” but because of what they are doing. It’s not as if Jack Phillips refuses to make birthday cakes for people who are gay. He is refusing to provide a cake that will be used to celebrate an action that he considers immoral. There is a big difference. But I don’t expect the law to recognize such distinctions anymore.
Just more of the same.
Update 8/24/15: A Colorado Court of Appeals ruled against Jack Phillips on the grounds that he is free to believe whatever he wants, but he is not allowed to act on those beliefs by refusing service to people with a homosexual orientation. Oddly enough, Mr. Phillips isn’t discriminating against anyone’s sexual orientation. He has no problem baking cakes for homosexuals. What he has a problem with is baking cakes for events that promote homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Thinking to Believe 
December 11, 2013 at 4:48 am
What good books you have to recommend about Biblical Prophecies and its critics , I mean only about End Times.Why does it even go criticized when all of those things are happening in front of our won eyes?
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 5:00 am
I understand that illegal discrimination is something you want to do. But it still remains illegal, as the courts are showing.
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 7:28 am
BUSINESS, DISCRIMINATION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND METAPHOR
“So the law can force a man to violate his conscience just so someone else’s feelings don’t get hurt? What about Jack Phillips’ feelings?”
The Law does not force a man to violate his conscience, the law simply says that when you open a business to serve the public you cannot violate the laws against discrimination and unfortunately sexual gender is one of the human rights that are included in the anti discrimination laws that just so happens to include religion(and isn’t that ironic that sexual orientation and religion are both protected from discrimination by the Government HUH?) religion, I hasten to add that includes ludicrous beliefs in the supernatural, myths, miracles, magic and madness. I hasten to add
“Surely his feelings are hurt at the prospect of having to close his business.”
The Government regulates businesses so that they serve the public, not private feelings. If they were in charge of the rain or the sun would they cause it to rain only on the people they agree with and not on others? Even in nature, what you might call god causes the sun to shine on the righteous and unrighteous alike, on the religiously insane and atheists alike, so follow your God then and stop thinking that your religion gives you any kind of special privileges! It does not. And if you go to a Muslim country you could get killed simply BECAUSE of your religious, hence infidel, beliefs.
“Jack Philips is not denying them service “because of who they are,” but because of what they are doing.”
You fail to understand that what they are doing IS BECAUSE of who they are. Religious myopicism does that to people. It’s called Absolute Certainty, the devil’s drug. (please note: not to confuse this but ‘devil’ is a metaphor not a reality)
You could of course open a business in Saudi Arabia because that stoneage society would allow you to discriminate against gays, anybody who is not Muslim and witches; you could even kill gays and witches too, to satisfy your conscience and you would be applauded.
“It’s not as if Jack Phillips refuses to make birthday cakes for people who are gay. He is refusing to provide a cake that will be used to celebrate an action that he considers immoral. There is a big difference.”
It is none of Jack’s business what the cake is used for: whether a symbol for a Union of love or to shove into a bigot’s face. Not much of a difference really?
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 7:35 am
Oh Suzana…
Biblical Prophecies and the End Times have been discussed for more than 5,000 years in every generation since thought came into a man’s brain. nothing will change no matter how much you read, pray, wish, hope, want, believe; it is totally meaningless; end times will never happen, it is only a religious talking point for idle chatter. Even when people die they’re the only ones won’t know it, like going to sleep, you only have knowledge of sleep if you wake up from it. And nobody does I’m afraid.
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 10:04 am
I asked Jason other than that I have been raised an atheist so don’t try , I’ve read all atheist literature as a kid basically and I am reading it even today as much as I can . I hated the idea of God and sometimes still do , Christianity is the last thing I’d go to . I know that there is a God – I don’t believe it , when I had to believe it I was an atheist even tho I was 99% persuaded , I don’t want to live forever and I am terrified of it , death in my opinion is better than everlasting life so my wishful thinking would persuade me to atheism , the more thought I give to it I wish God would just destroy me completely .
Since you seem to believe what you are saying go and get the best of life before you’re dead instead of wasting your time on sites like this even tho your life is a waste of time anyway but let people enjoy their delusions and bother with something better .
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 11:11 am
I almost comited suicide after this , I started hurting myself , I stopped eating and almost got anorexia, I became very anxious ,I vomited blood when I got really upset and I couldn’t sleep nor focus etc , I still cannot deal with God , I envy people who are playing with religion and going to church because they merely believe so they don’t feel this terror and agony I do , I had major health problems because of this and I still wanna be an atheist because life was so much easier than but now I have no way out , ever .
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 11:54 am
As an orthodox Jew, i have enjoyed some of the thoughtful posts and conversations on this blog, but i disagree with this post along the lines of what SonofMan said. I would go further and note that the US protects freedom of (necessary) religious practice/exercise, but maybe does not and should not protect religious preferences.
I dont think as a Christian there is any binding prohibition on selling a cake to a guy who may use it in connection with an act that the bible says we shouldnt do (let me know if i’m just wrong, i know of no such rule under jewish law). if you sold him a condom and he wouldnt do the act otherwise, maybe it would come under the “do not place a Stumbling Block” prohibition as a “but for” accessory to a prohibited activity. but a cake to celebrate marriage?
and your distinction about what people do vs. what people are is dangerous (not only b/c of what Sonof Man properly noted about identity), but because religious peeps would be shooting themselves in the foot to try to broaden such allowed discriminations. According to your point, a person who’s religion didnt like peeps who practiced Christianity/judaism/islam should be allowed to discriminate against them. i’m sure u wouldnt like it if the only Chipotle in town was owned/run by such a person and u couldnt get any, even if based on “what [you] are doing” as opposed to “who [you] are”.
the rules of discrimination are very important to the fabric of this wonderful country, and need to be consistently applied to those who may not be religious, in order to consistently protect true freedom of religion.
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 10:17 pm
In the United States, there is no federal law binding to the nation that requires someone to not discriminate against homosexuals by way of service or goods.
There are only various state laws. Currently, homosexuals are not a protected class of people, except only in one area: they cannot be refused the right to work if qualified for a job, based on their homosexuality.
So unless this baker broke a state law, there is no federal law mandating that he not discriminate according to his own biases.
Further, the ability to prove the reasons behind his not providing services or goods is almost impossible short of a confession or record. All he would have to say is “I was too busy and fulfilling the order would have been detrimental to my current contracts”. No one would be able to prove otherwise. “He said, she said” doesn’t work in a court of law.
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Here is a link:
http://www.legalzoom.com/us-law/equal-rights/right-refuse-service
The highlights are below:
“Is it a violation of your civil rights for a business to refuse to serve you because of the way you look, the way you smell, or the way you act? The answer is…it depends.
“The Federal Civil Rights Act guarantees all people the right to “full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.
“The right of public accommodation is also guaranteed to disabled citizens under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which precludes discrimination by businesses on the basis of disability.”
“In addition to the protections against discrimination provided under federal law, many states have passed their own Civil Rights Acts that provide broader protections than the Federal Civil Rights Act. For example, California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on unconventional dress or sexual preference.”
LikeLike
December 11, 2013 at 10:26 pm
That being said, there does appear to be a state law in Colorado (where this took place) prohibiting his actions.
Here is the link:
http://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DORA-DCR/CBON/DORA/1251629367385
Highlights:
“Colorado Law prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on certain protected classes (characteristics). Examples of prohibited discriminatory practices include: terms of service; denial of full and equal service; intimidation; failure to accommodate; access; conditions; privileges; advertising; and retaliation. A place of public accommodation can be a: bar; restaurant; financial institution; school or educational institution; health club; theater; hospital; museum or zoo; hotel or motel; public club; retail store; medical clinic; public transportation; nursing home; recreational facility or park; and library.
“Colorado law prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on actual or perceived sexual orientation. By legal definition, sexual orientation means heterosexuality, homosexuality (lesbian or gay), bisexuality, and transgender status. Transgender status means a gender indentity or gender expression that differs from societal expectations based on gender assigned at birth.”
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Church jury convicts Pennsylvania United Methodist pastor for same-sex wedding
Pastor Wants to Be Voice for LGBT Church Members:
Other denominations have reached out to Schaefer, but he says he wants to continue in the United Methodist Church if permitted.
Allowing him to remain a Methodist minister would be a “path towards healing,” he said. “I’d prefer to remain a United Methodist minister so I can do work…towards dismantling the discrimination.”
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pastor-Suspended-for-Performing-Sons-Gay-Wedding-235998561.html
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 12:26 pm
December 16, 2013 at 12:38 pm
LikeLike
January 1, 2014 at 1:39 pm
What is wrong with the world that keeps it still, in thrall, to a system of caste, of coloured inflections, of black, of white?…. you know, when my soulmate caresses my arm, my back, my pain, I do not feel a black touch, a white touch, a coloured touch; what I feel and what I love about my soul mate, is the human touch and that human touch of love has no companion with the division that has engulfed the world for far too long!
LikeLike