DENVER — A Lakewood gay couple is moving ahead with a discrimination complaint against a cakeshop that refused to prepare their wedding cake.
The Colorado Attorney General’s office filed a formal complaint last week against Masterpiece Cakeshop on behalf of Charlie Craig and David Mullins.
The complaint stems from an incident on July 19, 2012, in which Masterpiece owner Jack Phillips declined to create a rainbow layer cake for the couple’s October wedding in Massachusetts, saying his business does not bake cakes for gay weddings.
The move drew national attention and sparked a boycott, though Phillips claimed his business actually increased after the controversy.
“I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, so you could say this is a religious belief,” Phillips told FOX31 Denver. “I believe the Bible teaches that (homosexuality) is not an OK thing.”
At the time, Phillips noted that he would gladly sell other goods to gay people — just not a wedding cake.
After being refused service by the Lakewood bakery, Mullins said he and Craig went to the “gayest cake shop we could think of.” That was LeBakery Sensual in Denver. He also said the outpouring out support that he and Craig have received from “around the world” has been “so reassuring.”
Colorado law says it’s illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation in employment and housing. But when it comes to things like selling cakes, the law is less than clear.
Watch the video from KDVR here.
