Gay Couple's Cake Poses Big 1st Amendment Questions

By JoAnne Sweeny ( July 31, 2017, 11:06 AM EDT) -- Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission[1], the famous "gay wedding cake" case that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next term, represents a complex conflict between First Amendment and anti-discrimination claims. However, the facts and background of this case are relatively simple. In July 2012, Charlie Craig and David Mullins went to Masterpiece Cakeshop and attempted to order a wedding cake from owner Jack C. Phillips. Although they did not discuss what design they wanted the cake to have, Phillips refused to sell them a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding based on his religious beliefs. At the time, same-sex marriage was not legal in Colorado; Craig and Mullins intended to marry in Massachusetts and have a celebration with friends and family in Colorado afterwards....

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