Colorado cake baker sues state again

Colorado cake baker sues state again

DENVER — The Colorado baker whose refusal to make a wedding cake for a gay couple led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision is suing the state again for opposing his refusal to bake a cake celebrating a gender transition.

Lawyers for Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips filed a federal lawsuit Aug. 14. They are challenging a June 28 finding by Colorado’s Civil Rights Division that Phillips discriminated against a Denver-area attorney when he refused to bake a cake to celebrate the attorney’s gender transition from male to female. Phillips’ complaint says Colorado is on a “crusade to crush” him because of his religious beliefs.

In 2012, Phillips refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. The state said Phillips violated the civil rights of the two men. Phillips sued, and the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, who ruled June 4 that some commission members displayed anti-religion bias in their decision against Phillips. The court did not address whether people can avoid providing services to same-sex weddings because of religious beliefs.

Phillips’ attorneys contend his First Amendment right to practice his faith is again being violated. (TAB)