No, the bakers did NOT sell their goods to any and all gays that came into their shop. They refused service to these two. And an Oregon court agreed, fining the bakers $135,000 on December 28, 2017. Oops. Guess it wasn't a nothing burger after all.
The case was heard by the Supreme Court in December. We will hear the verdict in June, likely.
The last time we had this argument, gay marriage was not a Constitutionally-protected right and the Oregon Court of Appeals had not ruled. They have and the bakers LOST. The world has changed and refusing equal service to someone due to their sexual orientation is not going to be tolerated anymore, no matter the fig leaf used. Even if the Supreme Court finds for the bakers, my point is that within 10 years, the law will be changed to outlaw such attempts to use religion to mask bigotry towards gays. The next generation simply has a totally different outlook on these things and they will be in charge, not us.
The right to religion should not be used to cloak what is essentially bigotry and the 14th Amendment, with the equal protection clause, coupled with the Civil Rights Act (which prohibits discrimination in public accommodations) will be used to justify a decision against the bakers.
Maybe.
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