Colorado baker reaches agreement with state over LGBTQ cakes

Colorado baker reaches agreement with state over LGBTQ cakes

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The legal battle between Colorado baker Jack Phillips and the state of Colorado is over after both agreed to end litigation.

Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, dropped a lawsuit against the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which he said was harassing him for refusing to make LGBTQ-themed cakes. The Commission agreed to halt its proceedings against Phillips as well.

Phillips has long contended that baking such cakes would violate his Christian beliefs and that his rights to freedom of speech and religion protect that decision. Phillips’ legal fight began in 2012, according to the Denver Post, and made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in June 2018 that some members of the Civil Rights Commission exhibited hostility toward religious beliefs. However, the court ruling fell short of addressing the First Amendment issues of the case.

In a statement Phillips said he will continue to treat customers with “love and respect” and serve “everyone who comes” into his shop but added he “simply can’t celebrate events or express messages that conflict” with his beliefs. (TAB)