Indianapolis Bakery refuses service to gay student group

[cwalner]

I heard this on the news this morning then looked it up for a link and am quite infuriated.

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/indianapolis_bakery_wont_serve_gay_students

This is what bothered me most about the story:

"I explained we're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was best not to do that," said co-owner David Stockton to a local Fox television station. He then added that it's his bakery's decision to decide what is obscene. Apparently rainbow colors fall under that label. "We have our values, and you know, some things ... for instance, if someone wants a cookie with an obscenity, well, we're not going to do that."

For context, the order that the owner considered obscene was of rainbow colored cookies and cupcakes to celebrate National Coming Out Day on October 11th.

The good news is that this bakery is in a place called City Market and is somewhat under the authority of the City of Indianapolis, and the city seems (heard rumors but not comfirmed) to be using this as an education opportunity and reminding all tenants of City Center that such discrimination is not a good thing.

 

[Cainkane1]

I heard this on the news this morning then looked it up for a link and am quite infuriated.

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/indianapolis_bakery_wont_serve_gay_students

This is what bothered me most about the story:



For context, the order that the owner considered obscene was of rainbow colored cookies and cupcakes to celebrate National Coming Out Day on October 11th.

The good news is that this bakery is in a place called City Market and is somewhat under the authority of the City of Indianapolis, and the city seems (heard rumors but not comfirmed) to be using this as an education opportunity and reminding all tenants of City Center that such discrimination is not a good thing.

His daughters would be hurt by the colors of the rainbow on cupcakes?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

That sounds like a half-baked explanation.

 

[Lukraak_Sisser]

I'd not want to use the rainbow. Its a truly hateful symbol.

I slaughtered all of you but one family, but now I'm sorta sorry and I promise probably not to do it again. But you're still all going to be punished forever.

 

[Bob Klase]

His daughters would be hurt by the colors of the rainbow on cupcakes?

I'd like to be there if Noah shows up wanting to order a million rainbow decorated cookies to bring on his ark.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I'd like to be there if Noah shows up wanting to order a million rainbow decorated cookies to bring on his ark.

And if Noah does show up with that order, don't take a check. Cash only!

 

[linusrichard]

I guess if I supported the right of the Shop Rite to refuse to make the Adolf Hitler birthday cake, then I should support the right of this store to refuse to make these cupcakes. And I do. But let's be clear: in this case, it's supporting the right of idiots to be idiotic.

 

[linusrichard]

Also majorly annoying: putting out "we're a family-run business" as if that's an explanation. As if family is incompatible with respect for gays.

(This is putting me off on a tangent: I was putting my daughter into the car after grocery shopping one day, and our car has a bumper sticker that says "Marriage = <3 + <3" except the <3s are hearts. Some guy was asking me about the sticker, and I explained that it was basically a pro-gay-marriage sticker, and he couldn't understand how I could have a daughter if I was in favor of gay marriage. I had to explain that I am a man who is married to a woman, etc. He was still confused; I had to explain that I'm pro-gay-marriage, but only for other people who want to marry someone of the same sex, not for me. Why was this so hard to understand?! Okay, /tangent.)

Also minorly annoying: the fact that a store called "Just Cookies" sells cupcakes at all.

 

[jayh]

I guess if I supported the right of the Shop Rite to refuse to make the Adolf Hitler birthday cake, then I should support the right of this store to refuse to make these cupcakes. And I do. But let's be clear: in this case, it's supporting the right of idiots to be idiotic.

Kinda' have to go with you on this too. Depending on state law, it may not be a 'public accommodation' issue, certainly anyone can go to another bakery (who will be glad to take their money)

Perhaps people here might not want to print materials or do a cake for a 'pro-life' event, or other religious or political event with which we strongly disagree. In a free country, that should be permitted.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Of course. And if the rainbow people take their very green money to another bakery, and so do all the rainbow people's friends, well, I'm sure this guy can survive by selling his hate cookies to other bigots.

 

[Vortigern99]

"I explained we're a family-run business [and of course gay people hate families and seek to destroy them at every turn], we have two young, impressionable daughters [who might suddenly "go dyke" by the mere ordering of colorfully-decorated pastries] and we thought maybe it was best not to do that [especially considering the fact that we are irrational bigots]," said co-owner David Stockton to a local Fox television station [which seems to explain a lot]. He then added that it's his bakery's decision to decide what is obscene [while it is the rest of the world's decision to decide what is stupid, hateful and bigoted]. Apparently rainbow colors [and in-born sexual desires] fall under that label. "We have our values [and as everyone knows "value" is an antonym of "gay"], and you know, some things [such as religious-based exclusivity and hatred, are taken to ridiculous extremes by persons who lack a) compassion and b) the necessary critical faculties to reason their minds out of the horrifying death-grip their bigoted pastors and/or equally hateful parents have placed upon them]... for instance, if someone wants a cookie with an obscenity [such as, you know, a *********** rainbow], well, we're not going to do that [whereas "Give me a *********** cookie" said by a heterosexual person, or at least a person pretending to be heterosexual, would be absolutely acceptable assuming that person is Christian and looks, dresses and behaves exactly as we do"]."

Fixed it.

 

[C_Felix]

I wonder what'll happen if one the daughters draws a rainbow in school.
Or goes to the University of Hawai'i, with rainbows on their team's helmets.

 

[Cavemonster]

I for one think this bakery did the community a favor. They've clearly expressed their messed up views publicly, as is their right. Now, intelligent, non-bigoted people can take their business elsewhere. This is one of those areas where capitalism works.

 

[Checkmite]

I wonder what'll happen if one the daughters draws a rainbow in school.
Or goes to the University of Hawai'i, with rainbows on their team's helmets.

Or becomes a Jeff Gordon fan.

 

[Soapy Sam]

I see no reason to put words in the guy's mouth.
He has every right to refuse service to anyone he chooses.
If that negatively impacts his business, that's his responsibility.

I must admit I'm baffled about the obscenity of rainbow cookies though. Where did he get that idea?

 

[cwalner]

Also minorly annoying: the fact that a store called "Just Cookies" sells cupcakes at all.

Actually they don't, from another story (can't find link anymore), the wife's excuses for not serving them was initially that they don't serve cupcakes. Then the student apparantly asked for rainbow cookies instead. The response then from the wife was then that they don't have enough colors.

Eventually after not buying it, the local news station asked the husband and got the quote in the OP.

 

[GrandMasterFox]

I for one think this bakery did the community a favor. They've clearly expressed their messed up views publicly, as is their right. Now, intelligent, non-bigoted people can take their business elsewhere. This is one of those areas where capitalism works.

I couldn't have said it better myself.
I don't see what's the fuss is about? It's not like they asked them to outlaw the darn thing, they just said they prefer not to accept good business for it.

Good for them and likely I would never shop there myself. Well... Not an american so that's kind of a moot point but you get my drift.

Besides, if I had a bakery and they wanted me to make an anti-gay cookie I would have refused them.

 

[cwalner]

I for one think this bakery did the community a favor. They've clearly expressed their messed up views publicly, as is their right. Now, intelligent, non-bigoted people can take their business elsewhere. This is one of those areas where capitalism works.

Fully agree. Please note that as of now, the student orginazation is not seeking any legal redress, they are simply making the story as public as possible.

Also, I don't think they have a very strong legal case (for damages) because the refussal was early enough for them to contact another bakery and fill the order in time.

They could possibly push for a civil rights case, but from what I've read, the students involved don't see it as worth it. They seem content to publicize the incident and let the negative publicity for the bakery be the punishment in lieu of legal damages.

 

[Vorticity]

... I'm sure this guy can survive by selling his hate cookies to other bigots.

Mmmmmm. Hate cookies. Filled with bitter, bitter sweetness...

 

[Ladewig]

I'd not want to use the rainbow. Its a truly hateful symbol.

I slaughtered all of you but one family, but now I'm sorta sorry and I promise probably not to do it again. But you're still all going to be punished forever.

You missed the fine print: "I'm never going to kill almost all of humankind again (with water)." [Gen 9:11]