Anti-Gay Bakery Owners in Indianapolis Must Serve LGBT Customers
In September, an Indianapolis bakery made national news for refusing to serve a group of LGBT customers from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The customers, who were prepping for an event to honor National Coming Out Day, turned to the bakery, a shop named Just Cookies in the Indianapolis City Market, and placed an order for some rainbow-iced baked goods.But instead of being welcomed with open arms, the owners of Just Cookies told the students to find another bakery to place the order. Turns out that for the owners of Just Cookies, making baked goods with rainbow icing to celebrate gay pride was something they considered obscene.
"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 at the time. "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."
Stockton started a huge fracas that had many in the community thinking that Just Cookies violated a city ordinance in Indianapolis protecting LGBT people from discrimination at public establishments like the City market. Rainbow frosted baked goods obscene? LGBT customers told to pack up and head elsewhere? Sounds like a clear cut case of discrimination.
Scores of activists agreed, condemning the actions of the bakery and holding protests. A local Indianapolis radio show even hosted an event where they gave out rainbow-frosted cupcakes.
Now, three months later, the bakery and the city of Indianapolis have reached a settlement over discrimination accusations. The deal goes something like this: Just Cookies has to recognize that the city of Indianapolis has a non-discrimination policy that includes protections on the basis of sexual orientation, and they have to post this policy at their establishment in a place viewable by the public.
The settlement comes after conversations between the bakery and the Indianapolis Corporation Counsel. Andrea Brandes, a spokesperson for the council, said that the matter is now closed. Brandes noted that there was an investigation into whether the bakery violated equal opportunity laws, but because the bakery and the bakery's lawyers came to the city asking for resolution, "we were able to work toward the intent of the (anti-discrimination) ordinance which is conciliation and compliance."
All's well that ends well? Depends on who you ask, of course. For his part, an Assistant Chancellor at IUPUI told a local Fox station that he's hopeful this can be a teachable moment for everyone involved.
"You hate to have to go through something like this but it's a good thing if we learned from it and we were able to resolve the situation, that would be the silver lining," said Dr. Kenneth Durgans.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for a cupcake in the Indianapolis area, just remember that it was a bakery called The Flying Cupcake that ended up honoring the request for rainbow-frosted baked goods way back in September.
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