Baker Fined After Refusing To Make Cake For Transgender Person

A baker has received a fine after refusing to make a cake for a transgender customer.

Jack Phillips, from Colorado, was found to have violated the state's anti-discrimination laws by refusing a service to Autumn Scardina.

Scardina asked for a birthday cake that was blue on the outside and pink on the inside, which she wanted to celebrate her transition.

But Phillips, who owns Masterpiece Cakeshop, refused to offer the service, leading Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones to issue a $500 (£360) fine.

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Jones said that although Phillips refused to make the cake because of the message it carried, the case was about the fact that he refused to sell a product.

In March, Phillips testified during a trial, saying he didn't think someone can change their gender, adding that he wouldn't celebrate 'somebody who thinks that they can'.

In his decision, the judge wrote: "The anti-discrimination laws are intended to ensure that members of our society who have historically been treated unfairly, who have been deprived of even the every-day right to access businesses to buy products, are no longer treated as 'others'."

But Alliance Defending Freedom, the group representing Phillips, said it would be appealing the ruling.

The group's general counsel, Kristen Waggoner, said in a statement: "Radical activists and government officials are targeting artists like Jack because they won't promote messages on marriage and sexuality that violate their core convictions."

Phillips had previously declined to make a cake for a gay couple's wedding. In 2012, he refused to take the order on account of it being a violation of his religious beliefs.

In 2017, the case reached the US Supreme Court after it was ruled that Phillips' right to free expression of his religion was violated when he was fined for refusing the service to the couple.

On the same day, Scardina tried to order the cake for her transgender celebration. Scardina said that although she did want to 'challenge the veracity' of Phillips' statements, her attempt to order a cake was not a 'set-up'.

John McHugh, one of Scardina's attorneys, said the case isn't just about what happened to her, but is about how LGBT people are treated in general.

McHugh said: "This is about a business that is open to the public that simply says to an entire class of people in the community that your identity, who you are, is something that is objectional."

Topics: US News

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. She spent a few years working on festivals and events before joining LADbible. In her spare time, Amelia likes music and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward