Recipe for Controversy
By: Matt Flener, KUSA
Updated: August 6, 2012
A Lakewood, Colorado cake shop has found itself in the middle of a national controversy.
That's after Masterpiece Cake Shop's owner, Jack Phillips, said he would not make a cake for a couple's gay wedding reception.
"This whole thing boils down to the one cake," Phillips said.
Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig made a simple request of Phillips last month.
The two requested a wedding cake for a local reception in October.
They're getting married in Massachusetts in September.
"You know, white on the outside, some red and teal swirls on the side, cause those are our wedding colors," Craig said.
Phillips said he has a strong stance toward the biblical view of marriage between one man and one woman.
"I said, 'I'm sorry I don't do cakes for same sex weddings,'" Phillips said.
Phillips said the two were welcome to buy any other cake in the store, but he would not participate in making a custom creation for their wedding.
News about the controversy spread, and around 20 people protested outside of Phillips' shop Saturday.
More than 4,000 have signed an online petition to get Phillips to change his stance.
"It's been really stunning and heartwarming to see how many people have stood up to support us," Mullins said.
Yet the same support has come into the cake shop.
"So many people have called me and come in," Phillips said. "I can't keep up."
And there is no doubt, at the small cake shop in Lakewood, the layers of this debate continue to add on.
"We're not trying to shut down Masterpiece Cake Shop, we want Masterpiece Cake Shop's policy toward, gays and weddings, gay weddings to change," Craig said.
"I wouldn't pick them out and say I'm not going to do your cake because your gay. I'm just not going to participate in your wedding cake," Phillips said.
That's after Masterpiece Cake Shop's owner, Jack Phillips, said he would not make a cake for a couple's gay wedding reception.
"This whole thing boils down to the one cake," Phillips said.
Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig made a simple request of Phillips last month.
The two requested a wedding cake for a local reception in October.
They're getting married in Massachusetts in September.
"You know, white on the outside, some red and teal swirls on the side, cause those are our wedding colors," Craig said.
Phillips said he has a strong stance toward the biblical view of marriage between one man and one woman.
"I said, 'I'm sorry I don't do cakes for same sex weddings,'" Phillips said.
Phillips said the two were welcome to buy any other cake in the store, but he would not participate in making a custom creation for their wedding.
News about the controversy spread, and around 20 people protested outside of Phillips' shop Saturday.
More than 4,000 have signed an online petition to get Phillips to change his stance.
"It's been really stunning and heartwarming to see how many people have stood up to support us," Mullins said.
Yet the same support has come into the cake shop.
"So many people have called me and come in," Phillips said. "I can't keep up."
And there is no doubt, at the small cake shop in Lakewood, the layers of this debate continue to add on.
"We're not trying to shut down Masterpiece Cake Shop, we want Masterpiece Cake Shop's policy toward, gays and weddings, gay weddings to change," Craig said.
"I wouldn't pick them out and say I'm not going to do your cake because your gay. I'm just not going to participate in your wedding cake," Phillips said.
