Here we go again – US appeals court to hear case of bakery which refused gay wedding
A US appeals court is today to hear arguments in a case surrounding a baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding.
The case at the Colorado appeals court surrounds Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, who will argue that his religious beliefs should allow him to refuse to bake cakes for same-sex weddings.
He is appealing against an order which means he would have to stop the policy, or instead face fines.
The lawsuit against Phillips was filed by gay couple Charlie Craig and David Mullins, back in 2013, who visited the Denver bakery, and who subsequently posted on Facebook about being refused service.
The social media post, which said the couple had never faced discrimination, at the time went viral.
The couple said Phillips said he would not make a cake for them, after he found out they were celebrating their wedding in Colorado, after they got married in Massachusetts.
Attorneys arguing on behalf of Mr Phillips previously said he should not be forced to violate his religious beliefs by making the cake for the couple, while attorneys on behalf of the couple said his faith does not give him the right to discrimination.
A different bakery that also refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple was last week ordered to pay $135,000 in damages, after fighting a lengthy legal battle.
The owners of Oregon bakery Sweet Cakes by Melissa were found guilty of discrimination this year, after refusing to make a cake for lesbian wedding in 2013 – despite making divorce celebration cakes and cakes for ‘gay cure’ groups without issue.