Capitol Coverage: Masterpiece Cakeshop wins in Supreme Court Descision

The U.S. Supreme Court says Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission was hostile and biased against a man’s religious beliefs when he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple in Lakewood. Birkeland has more.

In its 7 to 2 ruling, the court said the Colorado civil rights commission was not fair or impartial, and violated the first amendment rights of baker Jack Phillips. One commissioner compared his sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the holocaust.

Republican state senator Bob Gardner spent time during this year’s legislative session trying to bring more balance to the commission.

This is a black mark upon our state’s civil rights commission, frankly. A commission appointed by our Governor.

Last month Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill to re-authorize the commission. The bill also prevent either party from having a majority of members on it. The Supreme Court ruling was narrow in scope and did not explicitly address whether a business can refuse to serve gay and lesbian people, but it did reaffirm anti-discrimination laws.