Supreme Court hearing on forcing Christian baker to make cake for gay wedding....

Ca

Candy

Since the Supreme Court is hearing the case of the gay couple who sued the Christian wedding cake baker today, curious to get honest opinions. My inclination is quick to jump to “of course the baker should have to make them a cake”, if it is a service he offers it is discriminatory to not serve them. However upon further reflection, some interesting points have been raised that I’d be remiss not to consider. First, the baker considers himself an artist, in fact his shop is named masterpiece. He literally paints on many of his cakes, so he considers any custom cake a commission. In an interview he said he would happily serve them, like if they wanted any standard product from his bakery case (he also sells cookies, birthday cakes etc) but for weddings each cake is done specifically for the event. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the gay couple, that opens the door to Muslim artists being unable to turn down a project that may portray Mohammed, or a Jew having to compose a piece of music praising Jesus as the son of God. While I am in favor of gay marriage, and don’t want businesses to discriminate against anyone, there is a gray area surrounding art and we also have religious freedom in this country. What are your thoughts?

10.4k views • 70 upvotes • 1524 comments

COMMENT (1524)

Me

Posted at
I don’t understand why can’t the couple go to another bakery and order from someone who is totally willing to bake for them? Businesses reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Ma

Ma • Dec 13, 2017
It isn’t really a question of whether a cake is a big deal. The details of the case are a side thing. Don’t get side tracked on whether a cake is a big deal. It’s not. The important issue here is whether discrimination protections should extend to LGBT people. The cake case just so happened to provide the Supreme Court with the type of case they needed to address that issue. It’s not about the cake, people. The Supreme Court doesn’t really care about cake. (But I do! Yum!)

AR

AR • Dec 13, 2017
Exactly my thoughts

Je

Jellybean • Dec 12, 2017
Not to you maybe

🐦

Posted at
I guess this brings up the question of why sexual orientation isn’t a protected class? You can’t refuse to serve a customer based on race, even if your religion said to.

Eu

Eunice • Dec 7, 2017
@R Thank you!

Eu

Eunice • Dec 7, 2017
@Coyote Its no problem. Thanks for listening

Eu

Eunice • Dec 7, 2017
@Ria Thanks for listening

üw

Posted at
More Christians making other Christians look bad, yay 🙄🤦🏾‍♀️1) His actions are discriminatory, can he not use Jesus to defend his blatant homophobia. There is no “he can do what he wants here”, this falls on the same street as him choosing not to serve POC’s because the sky is blue.2) Again, real Christians should bloody know, that our religion calls us to love and live in peace with all people, ALL PEOPLE. That means loving and accepting EVERY DAMN BODY. People who use their faith to back their homophobia and transphobia are WRONG. It is really not that difficult, if you are doing your homework correctly, you will understand that God was conscious, awake and knowing when He decided He was going to make a person gay, trans and etc. Please, PLEASE, keep your homophobia to yourself, and off God’s lips ✋🏾👋🏾🖕🏾

Ki

Kim • Dec 13, 2017
Thank you! Thank you SO MUCH for your original comment! I have been saying for forever now, what the heck is wrong with Christian people not accepting others on the grounds that the person is different than them. There are several areas in the Bible where Jesus accepted and took societal “undesirables” under his wing. If we are claiming to live a life like Christ, then it’s not on us to judge these people, but to accept and love. Cake as art? Just bake them the damn cake already! If it’s considered art, isn’t this baker also saying he would refuse to sell a painting or sculpture to someone who’s gay? Ridiculous! Personally, if I were that couple, I would not only take my business elsewhere, I would let it be known in as many ways as I could, on social media and word of mouth, how I was treated at that establishment. A few bad Yelp reviews can go a long way!

Ri

Richelle • Dec 13, 2017
I agree with you 100%!

Pe

Peighton • Dec 13, 2017
Let me guess those are all Old Testament

Sh

Posted at
I’m amazed at how many people are anti freedom. I am all for individual rights. That’s the beauty of this country. As a business owner he was not refusing service to this particular couple, he simply could not bring himself to make something in support of something his religion disagrees with. They could have easily gone somewhere else instead of throwing a pity party. This case has gotten way out of hand and I sympathize with the baker.

🏳

🏳️‍🌈🌹 Gabriel 🌹🏳️‍🌈 • Dec 13, 2017
It’s literally anti freedom to turn people away for being gay. Discrimination is not freedom smart one

Ka

Katrina • Dec 12, 2017
He refused to bake a wedding cake because he doesn't support gay marriage. You're either missing the point or ignorant to what discrimination is.

Ma

Markena • Dec 12, 2017
I didn’t bake the cake because of how I felt about it. I had the ability. Didn’t think they were bad people either - just wasn’t my thing. He did offer to make them a cake. Just not how they were specifying. He offered them the same scope of work as his other clients. That’s important here and it’s being selectively overlooked. Same thing.

As

Posted at
At the end of the day your paying for a service, the provider of said service can absolutely decline your request of that product or what you wish to be on said product-after all it is their product. You can’t make everyone happy and everyone is entitled to their own religion etc, forcing them to do it is dumb...it’d be that guys loss in money and I’m sure word would spread bc people always spread bad stuff quicker than good.

Br

Br • Dec 6, 2017
I agree.

Ha

Haley • Dec 5, 2017
First of all name calling isnt necessary. I never called you a name and I would ask that you could have the same respect for me. Whether you agree with my statement or not. I was telling you to educate yourself because you clearly are uneducated about the topic. Racism (and slavery) was justified by the church for centuries. Even recently (look into the Westbarrow Baptist church who personally protested my high school graduation with racist signs). And you’re right I don’t have any idea about your background just like you have no idea about mine. So let me tell you about that. I am married to a black man. I have been called every name in the book and been told horrible things because of who I chose to love. When I was planning my wedding (in rural Kansas) I was not allowed to get married in a certain church because my wedding was interracial and that wasn’t supported by that specific church. It was a horrible feeling and it helped me to have a lot of empathy for people who get discriminated against on a daily basis. Have you ever experienced true discrimination or prejudice (the kind that would force you to not go to certain businesses or not be about to get a certain job) based on your skin color, sexual orientation or religion? Because you have no empathy for people who have.

As

As • Dec 5, 2017
I wasn’t trying to say you were being condescending, I was referring to Haley. You have been great to talk to about this and given me a lot to think about

Al

Posted at
No one should be force or court ordered to do anything they don’t want to do or that is against their beliefs or practice. END OF DISCUSSION!

Re

Re • Dec 12, 2017
It wasn’t so obvious, I got it now.

Ka

Katie • Dec 12, 2017
That was my point. Obviously.

Al

Al • Dec 12, 2017
You can also support Christianity and the right to religious freedom ones rights to say no and not partake in something we don’t agree with. You can’t take away someone’s rights for another’s. And since this is now a federal court case federal law precedes stat law. So the couple is no longer protected.

el

Posted at
The baker shouldn’t be forced to do anything. They can always go to another baker.

el

el • Dec 7, 2017
Why wouldn’t they be able to get a cake anywhere? Not all bakers have the same views. The businesses who have religious reasons for not doing certain things should be left to it. There are many others who can accommodate. Forcing people to go against their integrity especially for something as easily resolved as this is wrong.

🐦

🐦 • Dec 7, 2017
But if we allow discrimination, what if we get to a point where gay people can’t get a cake baked anywhere? Or order a cup of coffee? Or get a haircut? Or get medical services? What doors does that open up?

Posted at
Don't business owners have the right to serve and not serve who they choose? The couple should have just found another baker..

Br

Brittany • Dec 7, 2017
I’m guessing if the Supreme Court sides with the couple, they won’t be for long.

• Dec 7, 2017
Right. Again, didnt know, which is why i asked. Laws are different here in my area.

Br

Brittany • Dec 7, 2017
The case originated in Colorado, which is a state in which sexual orientation is considered a protected class against discrimination by businesses open to the public.

St

Posted at
I think the couple should have respected his religion and look for a baker elsewhere.

尺ㄖ

Posted at
Love seeing how many of you justify same sex couples being viewed as second class citizens. What an unsurprising reveal.

Em

Emily • Dec 12, 2017
Literally what? Because there is a rich gay person, gay people can’t be discriminated against? Quite possibly the most illogical argument I’ve ever heard.

尺ㄖ

尺ㄖ • Dec 6, 2017
At least you’ve shown your true colours on where you stand with homophobia 😴

Ca

Catharine • Dec 6, 2017
Yeah. Look at all that hate Neil Patrick Harris keeps getting there in his mansion. I feel so sorry for rich white males who can afford to whine about cake. Really crying over this whole situation.