Bakery Rejects Lesbian Couple's Cake

[Jazzy]

The owner of a popular Pennsylvania bakery is feeling the heat after reportedly rejecting a lesbian couple's request for a cake.

Bethany and Jennifer Petrich had hoped to order a cake for a forthcoming ceremony to renew their vows from The Cake Pros, a bakery in Schuylkill Haven, but were turned away by owner Lorraine Fleming, WFMZ is reporting.

Fleming told the news station that she was "sorry for the damage that's been done as far as hurt feelings," but noted, "I'm not sorry for my decision and I feel strong. I know that I'm doing the right thing."

In an interview with Pennsylvania's Eyewitness News, she added, "We have homosexuality in our family and it was a hard decision to make, but in the end when I die and I'm one on one with God, I have to stand true to him."

The news comes just days after W.W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania turned away a lesbian couple who hoped to buy wedding gowns.

Victoria Miller, the bridal salon's owner, said that providing the women dresses "for a sanctified marriage would break God's law," according to the Associated Press.

A number of wedding vendors and business owners have made national headlines in recent months after turning away same-sex couples, usually citing religious grounds.

Among them was Jack Phillips, owner of Colorado's Masterpiece Cakeshop, vowed to stop making wedding cakes entirely after a court ruled that he'd discriminated against a pair of gay grooms-to-be when he refused to sell them a cake.

Last month, Oregon's Sweet Cakes by Melissa posted a series of photos showing desserts the company prepared for Restored Hope, a group which has advocated for reparative, or "ex-gay," therapy. That bakery was at the epicenter of a media firestorm in 2013, when co-owner Aaron Klein argued that he and his wife, Melissa, were simply living in accordance with their religious beliefs when they rejected a lesbian couple's request for a wedding cake.

Source

What are your thoughts on business owners who turn away same-sex couples?

 

[Nebulous]

Haven't we see a story like this before, but with gay men not getting a cake made? There seems to be a lot of bigotry in bakeries these days.

 

[beowulf]

these people obviously dont need all the business they can get

morons

 

[Jazzy]

A number of wedding vendors and business owners have made national headlines in recent months after turning away same-sex couples, usually citing religious grounds.

They have every right to refuse to serve customers based on their religious beliefs. There are still people in this world who still hold the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. You can talk yourself blue in the face but people who believe this, will never change.

 

[Nebulous]

I'd make a cake for any paying customer in my bakery, if I had one.

 

[beowulf]

I'd make a cake for any paying customer in my bakery, if I had one.

thats my point..........i thought times were supposed to be tough?.....not so tough that you can turn down business and give it to your rivals?

 

[xlovelyxrosesx]

I think it was wrong to do. Business with people has nothing to do with religion so I feel as if it was unnecessary to turn them down. If I owned a business, my customers, no matter who they are, I would still try and give them the business they deserve.

 

[GoldenBlade]

Unbelievable. As a business owner/employee, you should accept any customer no matter what. There's no need to be judgemental whatsoever.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

I don't understand the principle either. If someone is a paying customer, they are are supporting your business. It makes no business sense to turn them away because you don't agree with what they do in the bedroom. It has no impact on you. If someone is willing to pay, then you should provide the service.

Also just because you have the right to a belief doesn't mean that belief should be imposed on others. There are so many ways that could go wrong if it was like that. What about everything the civil rights movement worked for to make it so that certain people wouldn't be denied equal service?

 

[Fatal Dawn]

Her statements blatantly indicated that her actions were based on religious beliefs, which I don't think she can do as she has not established her business as such. I can understand if this was something like a Catholic school, where there is a definite declaration of beliefs. I don't think it should be something where one employer's or employee's personal beliefs dictate the belief systems of the whole institution. In the former case, where an institution's values are clearly outlined and codified, the protection of values apply. Having people choose who they want to serve based on their own personal beliefs, however, borders on discriminatory practice. There is nothing wrong with having personal beliefs. The issue is when people use those same beliefs to lampshade questionable business practices.

Personally, I see the contract between the customer and merchant as more essential. If someone has paid (or is willing to pay), they should be provided equal service unless they violate some sort of written agreement or compromise the rights of other patrons somehow.

At this stage in history, considering the progress we as Americans have made in becoming more tolerant of sexual orientation, I don't see it as a matter of being forced to believe in homosexuality. It is a fact of life that you either accept or you don't. Chances are, you may have a co-worker who you didn't know was gay or a friend or relative. And your so-called beliefs can change in an instant. (If it was your gay friend or relative you probably wouldn't want them treated this way). Regardless, it is still a personal choice -- whether to accept it for what it is in our 21st century society or to reject it. A personal choice that has little bearing on how you treat and serve your own patrons.

 

[Mozzie]

Welcome back to the 70s is all ill say.

 

[Corleone]

Again, as I said in the other similar post; business owners should not be required to serve any person or people they choose not to serve for any reason they have. The sign in every bar I worked in read "We reserve the right to refuse service to any person, for any reason". All businesses should have that option. It is not right to be nasty about a business which decides not to serve a gay couple if it goes against their principles or for any other reason. They are entitled to think and believe whatever they want to; vilifying them for standing up for what they believe in is absurd and it is not how America operates. Freedom of choice, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion; that is how America is supposed to operate. Besides, I'm sure there are plenty of other places these couples can go and get whatever service they need.

It's ridiculous for these places to be making the news because of this shit. Not everyone in the world accepts or approves of gay lifestyles, and you know what? They don't have to. That PC crap is old and tired and it is sissifying this country. Makes me sick.

:usaflag:

 

[McConnaughay]

Not everyone in the world accepts or approves of gay lifestyles, and you know what? They don't have to. That PC crap is old and tired and it is sissifying this country. Makes me sick.

It's funny. We're on the exact opposite of this debate. Intolerance in any way shape or form makes me sick. I operate under the philosophy that people should do what makes them happy, however. And I am not welcoming a debate, but I at least wanted to say that I disagree with you. Specifically, I disagree on whether or not a company should be able to deny service for something that I believe is so insignificant. At least for something as trivial as a fucking cake. Do what you want with it...

 

[Nebulous]

You're not sacrificing any morals or principles at all by selling someone an item from your store. It's simply running a business, nothing more / nothing less.

I'd make a cake for any paying customer in my bakery, if I had one.

And that is your right to do, just as it is the rights of the bakery owners in this article NOT to.

Would you sell cakes to gay customers in your bakery if you had one?

 

[Nebulous]

If you ran a forum would you ban all the gay members too?

 

[Nebulous]

If you ran a forum would you ban all the gay members too?

No.

Certainly allowing gay members to exist on your forum means you're supporting the gay life style. By the logic in this thread anyway. What if they started discussing their wedding plans on your forum?

 

[Fatal Dawn]

Cases like these have become more common in Pa since they overturned the ban on same-sex marriage. Businesses have been using loopholes to retaliate. Just like in this case, if the claim were religious protection, why did the owner wait until now to establish herself as a Christian business? I see the company website doesn't cite the religious beliefs of the institution and who will/will not be served. And if the owner's beliefs shouldn't be sacrificed, then what about the employees who may have sacrificed their own beliefs for the sake of the her's?

If it is so "insignificant" then denying the job or accepting the job shouldn't matter in the slightest.

And Fatal Dawn, as to your novel, I maintain and I will ALWAYS maintain that this is a case of free will. The bakery owner should not be required to do any damn thing with their business that goes against what they believe in. You don't like it? Go open your own business and cater to whomever you please, but don't tell anyone else that they have to sacrifice their principles just to make you happy.

Please explain what you mean by free will here? If the enactment of personal (religious) beliefs is what is needed to determine that, I feel that there are so many ways this can go wrong. Suppose, a doctor were to refuse a life-saving abortion on religious grounds, for example?

I don't perceive myself as any moral authority and it is not my business to tell people how to run theirs.

 

[Nebulous]

Certainly allowing gay members to exist on your forum means you're supporting the gay life style. By the logic in this thread anyway. What if they started discussing their wedding plans on your forum?

Yet again, you think your opinion makes it fact.

I would not ask members if they are gay or straight. If it came about that there were gay members on my board I would simply quit interacting with them. There would be plenty of other people there for them to talk to.

Never said my opinion was a fact. Why would you stop interacting with them?