Judge sides with California baker over same-sex wedding cake
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A California judge has ruled in favor of a bakery owner who refused to make wedding cakes for a same-sex couple because it violated her Christian beliefs. The state Department of Fair Housing and Employment has sued Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, alleging owner Cathy Miller intentionally discriminated against the couple in violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act. Video player above: Top stories from October 23, 2022 Miller’s lawyers argued that her right to free speech and free expression of religion outweighed the argument that she violated anti-discrimination law. Kern County Superior Court Judge Eric Bradshaw ruled Friday that Miller acted lawfully in upholding her beliefs about what the Bible teaches about marriage. The decision was hailed as a First Amendment victory for Miller and her free lawyers from the conservative Thomas More Society. I hope that in our community we can grow together,” Miller told the Bakersfield Californian after the sentencing. “And we have to understand that we don’t have to push an agenda against anybody else.” A spokesman said the fair housing department is aware of the ruling but has not decided what to do next. The couple, Eileen and Mireia Rodriguez-Del Rio, said they are awaiting an appeal. “Of course we’re disappointed, but we’re not surprised,” Eileen told the paper. “We expect our appeal to have a different outcome.” An earlier decision by the Kern County Superior Court also sided with Miller, but it was later overturned by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which sent the lawsuit back to the county. The decision comes as a Colorado baker challenges a ruling that he violated the state’s anti-discrimination law by refusing to make a cake celebrating his gender transition. This baker, Jack Phillips, won a partial victory in the US Supreme Court after refusing to make a gay wedding cake a decade ago on religious grounds.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. –
A California judge has ruled in favor of a bakery owner who refused to make wedding cakes for a same-sex couple because it violated her Christian beliefs.
The state Department of Fair Housing and Employment is suing Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, alleging owner Kathy Miller intentionally discriminated against the couple in violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
- Video player above: Top news for October 23, 2022
Miller’s lawyers argued that her right to free speech and free expression of religion outweighed the argument that she violated anti-discrimination law. Kern County Superior Court Judge Eric Bradshaw ruled Friday that Miller was acting legally in standing up for her beliefs about what the Bible teaches about marriage.
Miller and her attorneys at the conservative Thomas More Society hailed the decision as a victory for the First Amendment.
“I hope that in our community we can grow together,” Miller said California Bakersfield after the ruling. “And we have to understand that we shouldn’t impose any agenda against anybody else.”
A spokesperson said the fair housing department is aware of the ruling but has not determined what to do next. The couple, Eileen and Mireia Rodriguez-Del Rio, said they are awaiting an appeal.
“Of course we’re disappointed, but we’re not surprised,” Eileen told the paper. “We expect our appeal to have a different outcome.”
An earlier decision by the Kern County Superior Court also found in Miller’s favor, but it was later overturned by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which sent the lawsuit back to the county.
The solution comes as a Colorado baker challenging the ruling he violated the state’s anti-discrimination law by refusing to make a cake to celebrate his gender reassignment. This baker, Jack Phillips, won a partial victory in the US Supreme Court after refusing to make a gay wedding cake a decade ago on religious grounds.
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