Christian bakers face government wrath for refusing to make cake for gay wedding By Todd Starnes
A judge in Oregon ruled that the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa did discriminate against a lesbian couple in 2013 when they declined to provide a wedding cake because it would have violated their Christian beliefs. The discriminated couple knew that the laws were on their side because Oregon state law bans discrimination against LGBT people in places that serve the public. The bakery owners received heavy backlash after the incident and after several protests and boycotts by LGBT activists the couple was forced to close up shop. There is another court date set for March 10 in which the owners could be ordered to pay $200,000 in fines and damages.
This case marks an increase of the enforcement of legislation against discrimination of those in the LGBT community. It raises questions of religious liberty and discrimination. I think that it is interesting that the bakery owners declined the couple even though there was legislation in place that specially states that they can not discriminate based on sexual orientation. I know this is not the only incident of discrimination, so I think it will be interesting to see how each state will handle the situation.
Call me crazy, but regardless of my Catholic beliefs, I do think stories like these are a bit ridiculous. If this was the only baker in the world that this couple could hire for their wedding, then I would have a problem. But I think that this owner has the right to run her business according to her religious beliefs-- not discriminating against this couple, but standing by her Christianity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Abbey. This is a ridiculous situation. Just like my blog, people who don't support minorities are being targeted once again, which is extremely contradictory to the idea that minorities are the ones suffering the most backlash and hate. The bakers could refuse to serve any customers that walk through their doors, but because this couple was of the lesbian "minority", they are being boycotted, abused, and taken to court. The fact that this concept of "fairness for minorities" is being twisted and over-exaggerated is very frustrating to me, as the "majorities" are often being targeted, and that is just as wrong.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you except that a baker in the South during the Civil Rights movement (50s and 60s) most probably would have had a strong moral conviction against selling cakes to an interracial couple ... should that baker have had to sell to a Christian inter-racial couple if she felt strongly that it was "not as God intended"? Its a hard one, because I also agree with you that the store owner should be able to make choices for herself and her business, especially like you said when she is not the only baker in town, they easily could have chose a a different one... makes you wonder if they were pulling a little "MLK move" and going somewhere they knew they would get a reaction and be able to make a political point and create attention.... hmmmm
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