Posted on 06/04/2014 7:23:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
An order handed down by Colorado's Civil Rights Commission on a local Christian baker forcing him to undergo sensitivity training after he refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding citing his faith is "vague," "lousy" and pointless, says his lawyer.
Last Friday, the commission ruled that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, could not refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings citing his Christian faith and ordered him to undergo sensitivity training.
In an interview with The Christian Post Wednesday, his lawyer, Nicolle Martin, said the sensitivity training was pointless, because her client does not discriminate against gays, and the order for sensitivity training, which became effective on June 2, cannot be seriously implemented because it is "vague" and "lousy."
"The [sensitivity] training is really for the entire staff and it's for him to conduct training for his staff. It's kind of vague. He just has to report that he's done it. It's very vague," said Martin, who lamented that the haphazard order was as a result of unqualified people sitting on the commission.
"This is the problem where a bunch of lay people are making decisions about someone's livelihood and other people's jobs where the state has decided, has told Mr. Phillips, you don't have any First Amendment rights," explained Martin.
"You must express our message, we are the investigator; we are the prosecutor; we are the judge; we are the jury. And this is what you end up with. A lousy order that is vague and lacking specificity," she added.
When asked why she did not seek clarification from the commission, Martin said she and her client were not allowed to speak.
According to Martin, Phillips is also required to keep a log of every person he refuses service and document the reason why and present that log to the commission on a quarterly basis.
"The order says he must report on any orders — whether it be a cake or a brownie or cookies — turned away and the reason for doing so," said Martin, who explained that the commissioners had, at one point, suggested that Phillips provide a log of every single transaction highlighting the sexual orientation of the customer.
"Even though the commission [had] suggested that he report on every single transaction and whether the customer was gay, the Attorney General reminded the commission that that would be illegal for Jack to ascertain a customer's sexual orientation," said Martin. "Thankfully, the order was clarified to say report quarterly on any celebrations or orders turned away and the basis for doing so."
CP reached out to the commission for comment Wednesday but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.
According to the commission's website, the bipartisan seven-member group of commissioners are citizens of Colorado appointed by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and confirmed by the state's Senate to serve voluntary four-year terms.
"They are selected from across the state to represent both political parties. Two represent business (one of whom represents small business), two represent government, and three represent the community at-large. At least four of the members are members of groups of people who have been or who might be discriminated against because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or age," the website noted.
The commissioners are Katina Banks (D), chair; Raju Jairam (Un), vice chair; Diann Rice (Un); Marvin Adams (R); Heidi J. Hess (D); Dulce Saenz (Un) and A. Susie Velasquez (D).
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO...
Well said! But if you’re like me, and say that out loud, I bet you get some shocked looks.
Regards,
I’ve advocated that these cake stylists start marketing their products as edible art. Each piece should be considered a commissioned, custom piece of art. One wonders if courts would be so eager to compel a painter to create a piece she objected to or a musician to write a song about a subject that disgusted them.
The Constitution. How quaint.
We've evolved past that that old thing into a new era where power is reallocated to where it rightly belongs: a faceless group of bureaucrats who are far more enlightened to make decisions for people than they are themselves.
One of the first steps in that evolution was basically making every business in the country a "place of public accommodation", which gives the state a compelling interest to force businesses to accept any and all clients. Originally designed to deal with businesses along major transportation corridors to ensure that a traveller would not be stuck without food, fuel, or lodging due to racial discrimination, our betters have determined that it now applies to any business that takes any clients at all, and have expanded the meaning of "discrimination" to include behavior as well as race or religion, and that behavioral abnormalities trump religious beliefs in the process.
And aren't we a better people for it?
That’s pretty much what this is -
an order, by the government, under threat of the use of deadly force if you don’t comply,
to attend “re-education training”.
Time to say “NO”.
The baker needs to say “no” and get in contact with the Boys from Bunkerville.
Colorado voted for Obama and socialism.
Well, no not really. Not when it permits such “art” as submerging a crucifix in a glass of urine. That’s totally acceptable.
that very verse came to mind.
What happens to Jack Phillips if he ignores this gaystapo commission?
Stupid strategy. Then you'd likely get charged with assault.
Face the conflict honestly, head-on. Anything else is cowardice.
But after the fags cursed him and flipped him off, I would have denied selling them anything at all.
...and it should be a VERY expensive cake.
**What’s next, concentration camps?**
Yes, that is the plan. Not only can you not think negative thoughts about their lifestyle, you have to openly and conspicuously support their lifestyle, otherwise they will put you away.
You think I’m engaging in hyperbole? Think again, it’s coming.
Wasn't that written, like, 75 years ago?
That's foolishness, and foolishness is never praiseworthy or honorable.
I’m glad to see this posted. I don’t have a computer at home and can’t cut and paste from my phone. But on reading this story, I believe the Lord led me to do something about the situation in addition to prayer. I didn’t have a computer or printer handy, so I handwrote a short letter to this commission. That won’t be something they can so easily dismiss. If anyone else would like to, their address is Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver CO 80202.
In my opinion, no. A private business should have the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. Otherwise, we are not a free country.
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