In July 2012, petitioner Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop (co-petitioner), refused to make a cake for respondents Charlie Craig and David Mullins’ same-sex wedding, citing his religious beliefs. Craig and Mullins did not discuss any details of the cake with Phillips. Masterpiece Cakeshop is a “place of public accommodation” as defined by the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA).
On September 4th, 2012, Craig and Mullins each filed a complaint against Phillips with the Colorado Civil Rights Division (the Division) claiming that Phillips had engaged in sexual orientation discrimination in violation of CADA. The Division determined that Phillips violated CADA, prompting respondents to file a formal complaint with the Office of …show more content…
Phillip’s Christian faith “compels him to use his artistic talents to promote only messages that align with his religious beliefs.” (“Petition for Writ” 2016:2). Accordingly, Phillips does not make Halloween cakes or baked goods containing alcohol as doing so would be an endorsement of practices counter to his religious beliefs. Phillip’s religion holds that marriage is sacred and can only take place between a man and a woman (“Petition for Writ” 2016:14). The Commission previously made an exemption to CADA for secular bakers who refused to bake cakes with anti- same-sex marriage messages (“Petition for Writ” 2016:27). Accommodating these bakers’ secular beliefs while refusing to accommodate Phillip’s Christian beliefs is …show more content…
Just the absence of a guest at an important event can indicate that guest’s disapproval, the creation of a piece of art for a wedding indicates of support for the marriage. Even if Craig and Mullins had ordered a nondescript cake, their wedding reception would still feature a Masterpiece Cakeshop Cake made by the bakery’s self-proclaimed artist; the plainness of a piece of art does not strip the artist’s association from the piece. Short of including a disclaimer with his cakes stating his religious beliefs, guests at Craig and Mullins’s wedding would assume the Phillips supports same-sex
On September 4th, 2012, Craig and Mullins each filed a complaint against Phillips with the Colorado Civil Rights Division (the Division) claiming that Phillips had engaged in sexual orientation discrimination in violation of CADA. The Division determined that Phillips violated CADA, prompting respondents to file a formal complaint with the Office of …show more content…
Phillip’s Christian faith “compels him to use his artistic talents to promote only messages that align with his religious beliefs.” (“Petition for Writ” 2016:2). Accordingly, Phillips does not make Halloween cakes or baked goods containing alcohol as doing so would be an endorsement of practices counter to his religious beliefs. Phillip’s religion holds that marriage is sacred and can only take place between a man and a woman (“Petition for Writ” 2016:14). The Commission previously made an exemption to CADA for secular bakers who refused to bake cakes with anti- same-sex marriage messages (“Petition for Writ” 2016:27). Accommodating these bakers’ secular beliefs while refusing to accommodate Phillip’s Christian beliefs is …show more content…
Just the absence of a guest at an important event can indicate that guest’s disapproval, the creation of a piece of art for a wedding indicates of support for the marriage. Even if Craig and Mullins had ordered a nondescript cake, their wedding reception would still feature a Masterpiece Cakeshop Cake made by the bakery’s self-proclaimed artist; the plainness of a piece of art does not strip the artist’s association from the piece. Short of including a disclaimer with his cakes stating his religious beliefs, guests at Craig and Mullins’s wedding would assume the Phillips supports same-sex