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Judge rules in favor of California baker of Tastries Bakery who refused to serve same-sex couple

Posted at 12:20 PM, Dec 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-17 13:00:53-05

Tastries Bakery appeared in court on Thursday for a hearing regarding the establishment refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

The judge denied a motion for a temporary restraining order filed on Wednesday against Tastries owner Cathy Miller.

The order would forbid her "from selling to anyone any item they are unwilling to sell," according to a press release sent by The Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, which appeared on behalf of Miller in court on Thursday.

The release went on to say that the order wanted "to compel Miller to create wedding cakes for LGBT persons even though doing so would violate her sincerely held religious beliefs."

The bakery was under fire back in August when Miller said she refused to serve the couple because of her beliefs.

"Here at Tastries, we love everyone. My husband and I are Christians and we know that God created everyone and he created everyone equal... It's not that we don't like people of certain groups... there are just certain things that violate my conscience," Miller said in an interview with 23ABC in August.

The bakery posted a statement on their Facebook page:

Miller gave a statement on the matter this week stating, "I also believe business owners should not be forced to provide services that conflict with their own sincerely held beliefs." 

Miller said the business and community support has been wonderful, but she has also received a lot of hate mail and threats.

The couple's attorney, Patricia Ziegler-Lopez released a statement saying her clients' action against Tastries and Ms. Miller is not "an assault on religious liberty." She also said the couple is fighting against discrimination and working to uphold the law in California.

Miller said her intention was never to hurt anyone and she has refused to make other types of cakes before such as marijuana cakes, drunken cakes, and even divorce cakes.