Christian Baker Must Serve Gays, Rules Civil Rights Commission
Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission is ordering Christian bakery owner Jack Phillips to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples.
According to the seven-member commission, Phillips’ religious convictions do not trump the state’s anti-discrimination statutes.
“I can believe anything I want, but if I’m going to do business here, I’d ought to not discriminate against people,” Commissioner Raju Jaram said.
Friday’s unanimous ruling upholds a judge’s finding in December that Phillips violated civil rights law when he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple in 2012.
Meanwhile, Phillips, a devout Christian, said the decision violates his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion.
“I will stand by my convictions until somebody shuts me down,” he told reporters.
Phillips’ lawyer said she may appeal the ruling to Colorado Court of Appeals.
