Cookie Shop Accused Of Refusing 'Coming Out Day' Order

theindychannel.com ^ | September 30, 2010 | Joanna Massee

[Abathar]

INDIANAPOLIS -- A cookie shop at Indianapolis' City Market is being investigated after a university said the business refused to fill an order for a National Coming Out Day celebration.

Heather Browning, a coordinator for social justice education in the Office of Student Involvement at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, was organizing the Oct. 7 event, aimed at encouraging coming out and discussion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

She told 6News' Joanna Massee that she called Just Cookies to inquire about getting rainbow cookies made for the event.

"When I explained it to him the nature of the celebration, the gentleman told me that it was against their morals and values to do so, and then hung up on me," Browning said.

City spokesman Robert Vane said the city will launch an investigation next week to determine if Just Cookies, which has operated inside the City Market since the 1990s, violated Indianapolis' anti-discriminatory ordinance.

"Growing the City Market through offering a better product means little when the people offering a better product can decide who they want to sell to and who they don't," Vane said.

[Abathar]

I guess I will swing by and pick up a dozen from him while I still can, sounds like he'll be looking for a new place to do business by the time this is over.

[Question Liberal Authority]

When the story was reported originally, the outraged party had ordered cupcakes, and the store owner refused because they don't sell cupcakes.

Now, the outraged party is claiming they ordered cookies all along, and the owner of the bakery is not commenting.

[yoe]

(earlier post)

You will find the comments enlightening...and fun.

[panthermom]

I wonder if it would be ok for him to refuse making cookies for the KKK rally or the Neo Nazi anniversary? Then the headline would read how wonderful he was for taking a stand!!

[Abathar]

I searched cookie, cookies...

I hate duplicate posts because the titles vary so much.

[AlexW]

There is a considerable difference in refusing service, and
refusing to produce a special order or product.

Imagine the can of worms from being able to prosecute a
business for not making a product that you demand.

[Canedawg]

We need a national “Get back In The Closet” day.

:)

[Kozak]

"When I explained it to him the nature of the celebration, the gentleman told me that it was against their morals and values to do so, and then hung up on me," Browning said.

Yeah so? Now you can't refuse to do business with someone? How about I call up the bakery in a black neighborhood and order a few hundred Confederate Flag cookies for Southern Heritage day? How about some pig shaped cookies from the Halal shop down the street?

[sueuprising]

If a black man came into a privately owned bakery and asked for a cake that would celebrate the Black Panther party gunning people down or if a white man wanted a cake for the Ku Klux Klan, the bakery would have every right in the world, I would think, to refuse to sell to them.
Not selling rainbow cookies to a controversial organization was the right of that business. Not because of an individual but because the reason was morally objectionable to the owner of the bakery. What if a woman came in and asked for cookies in the shape of male genitalia? Would the bakery be accused of misogyny because they refused the order on moral grounds? What a sick world we live in.

[WayneS]

"When I explained it to him the nature of the celebration, the gentleman told me that it was against their morals and values to do so, and then hung up on me," Browning said.

So find a DIFFERENT cookie shop you whining moron. That's what a free market is SUPPOSED to be all about.

And another thing: Why in the world would you want to accept food from someone you KNOW does not like you?

Think: Jesse Jackson working in a restaurant preparing meals for white people].

[WayneS]

"Growing the City Market through offering a better product means little when the people offering a better product can decide who they want to sell to and who they don't," Vane said.

"Freedom for me, but NOT for thee."

[Abathar]

They’re a good Catholic family, little mom and pop kiosk that bakes cookies. I guarantee if someone came by and wanted swastikas put on their cookies they could tell them to go to hell also.

[vanilla swirl]

“How about some pig shaped cookies from the Halal shop down the street? “

Now that’s just a great idea!

[vanilla swirl]

“Jesse Jackson working in a restaurant preparing meals for white people”

I like ;-)

[Abathar]

""Growing the City Market through offering a better product means little when the people offering a better product can decide who they want to sell to and who they don't," Vane said."

[Marty]

Tell the people to make their own cookies. How hard is that? If they want to have rainbows on them, get colored frosting.

This is nothing more than an attempt to publicize their event and create trouble for people who might not wish to be involved in it. As far as I’m concerned, everybody has the right to either be involved or not. The shopkeeper is within his rights to refuse to do business with them. I consider it his version of free speech, but would suggest that he sell them undecorated cookies and tell them to decorate them as they wished. That way, at least he makes some money.

[fwdude]

When the story was reported originally, the outraged party had ordered cupcakes, and the store owner refused because they don't sell cupcakes.

Now, the outraged party is claiming they ordered cookies all along...

This incident sounds like a follow-up attack by the homo-nazis to confirm their ridiculous assertion that they are being "discriminated" against. Expect more attacks.

Paging the Alliance Defense Fund!!!

[Niteranger68]

Here's your damn cookie...

[PushinTin]

Heather Browning, a coordinator for social justice education

There are those two words again 'social justice', it's always dangerous when you see them together. A better term would be Socialist Education.

[Renfield]

“Coordinator for social justic education”? That sounds mighty Orwellian.