Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 5 June 2018

Baker in spotlight after court win in gay wedding cake case

Associated Press gay marriages.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The newlyweds filed a
Jack Phillips seems like an complaint with the state
unlikely U.S. Supreme Court civil rights commission,
plaintiff. which forbid Phillips from
The laconic 62-year-old has refusing service again.
quietly run his Masterpiece Phillips fought back,
Cakeshop from a strip mall appealing that ruling all
in suburban Denver for a the way to the Supreme
quarter of a century. Court. To avoid future
That changed, however, liability, he stopped making
when a gay couple asked any wedding cakes — a 40
him to make their wedding percent drop in business —
cake in 2012 and Phillips and cut his bakery staff of
said no, citing his religious 10 by six people, according
beliefs. to his attorney Kristen
Now, after winning a Waggoner.
partial victory Monday His case is one of several in
from the high court, Phillips the legal pipeline in which
has become a beacon professionals — video
for conservatives who producers, florists, graphic
feared a shift toward gay artists — declined to
rights could make them an provide services for same-
oppressed minority. sex weddings. Phillips' case
"I'm profoundly thankful that was the first to make it to
the court saw the injustice the high court.
that the government That landed the normally
inflicted on me," Phillips private baker in the
said in a statement issued spotlight. In November, just
through his lawyers. "This is before arguments in his case
a great day for our family, were heard in Washington,
our shop, and for people Phillips headlined a rally
of all faiths who should not at Colorado Christian
fear government hostility or University, not far from his
unjust punishment. Today's bakery.
decision makes clear that He appeared awkward on
tolerance is a two-way stage, laughing nervously
street." The justices cited and his voice rattling as he
anti-religious bias on the thanked those attending.
part of the Colorado Civil "I love using cakes as a
Rights Commission, saying canvas," Phillips continued.
it was unfairly dismissive of Baker Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, manages his shop Monday, June 4, 2018, in "One of the favorite parts of
Lakewood, Colo., after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he could refuse to make a wedding cake
Phillips' religious beliefs. for a same-sex couple because his religious beliefs did not violate Colorado's anti-discrimination my job is making wedding
But the court stayed out law. cakes because it allows
of the thornier issue of Associated Press me to bring my love of
whether people can avoid art — painting, sculpting,
providing services to same- their champion. and not fight in a war then Phillips and Charlie Craig airbrushing — to create
sex weddings because of Supporter Ann Sewell, you should be able to and Dave Mullins. The something beautiful
religious beliefs who brought a clutch of hold to your convictions couple had just married in and unique to mark the
Even so, people streamed congratulatory balloons in something as simple as Massachusetts and wanted beginning of something
into Phillips' cake shop to the bakery, compared this when it is not hurting a cake for a celebration in held sacred by many."
after the ruling came Phillips' bravery to people anyone," Sewell said. "It the suburb of Lakewood. At the conclusion of his
down, embracing him as opposed to the Vietnam might offend someone, but Phillips told the men he'd five-minute address, the
his phone rang repeatedly War. that's life." be happy to sell them other crowd swarmed around
with congratulations from "If you could be a The case stems from a brief products, but he didn't Phillips, touched him and
people who view him as conscientious objector meeting in 2012 between make wedding cakes for prayed.q