Cake baking and morality

[RecycleMichael]

I am kinda confused about this issue...

It seems that a local cake baker doesn't want to put images on their cakes that show two men (or two women) kissing. I have received three different e-mails from people upset about it.

I love cake. I will probably get married ten more times just for the cake. I love this baker, but have never ordered a cake with a picture on it.

I understand that they don't want to make a cake with images that they don't like and have the right to refuse the business, but also think it is kind of silly to turn away the cake business for moral reasons.

Here is their facebook page that follows some of the conversation...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tulsa-OK/Merritts-Bakery/62593770925

[Conan71]

I am kinda confused about this issue...

It seems that a local cake baker doesn't want to put images on their cakes that show two men (or two women) kissing. I have received three different e-mails from people upset about it.

I love cake. I will probably get married ten more times just for the cake. I love this baker, but have never ordered a cake with a picture on it.

I understand that they don't want to make a cake with images that they don't like and have the right to refuse the business, but also think it is kind of silly to turn away the cake business for moral reasons.

Here is their facebook page that follows some of the conversation...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tulsa-OK/Merritts-Bakery/62593770925

I don't think gay wedding cakes is a huge industry in Oklahoma since gay marriage is not recognized here.  Again, another example of a very, very small minority of people trying to stir the bucket just because they can.  I seriously doubt Merritt's has alienanted a whole lot of their gay customer base.  Personally I could care less if they do or don't put a gay cake topper on a cake.  It's their business and their prerogative.

It's really not much different than newspapers or television stations having certain policies about what they will and will not publish or put on the air.  When's the last time you saw a photo in the Tulsa World of two men or two women kissing?  OMG!  Must be discrimination because everyone is free to be offended these days.  Is anyone threatening to boycot the World for that? 

Oh, and getting married 10 times?  I learned my lesson after two times.  If I want wedding cake, from here on out I'll just follow the announcements in the Sunday paper...or follow the Merritt's van on Saturdays.

[TheArtist]

 I dont think its a big deal. I have been asked to paint some things, and refused, that I consider "distasteful" and can think of lots of things I would not paint on moral grounds if asked to. (for instance I absolutely refuse to paint Elvis Presley on velvet) They can hire someone else. And, I can buy cakes at a different store.

Btw, you can get married here in Oklahoma. My best friend and his better half got married at a church here about 4 years ago. Large ceremony, family, friends, pastor of the church officiating. The church and the people there were very welcoming and kind about it. Then everyone trucked downtown to have the reception at Lolas,,, and yes there was a cake, with 2 grooms on it lol. I hope to get married someday too,,, still working on getting a date, first thing first ya know. I dont need to have a gov. piece of paper to have a cake either lol. 

[cannon_fodder]

I'm with Michael on this one. 

I understand that it is their prerogative.  I think they have a right to refuse to put any image they so choose on a cake.   I think they have the right to refuse to show what they deem to be a homosexual image, just like they refuse to do many Halloween cakes because it supports the occult.  That's their choice.

But I disagree with the choice.  To me it stinks of "we are better than that because we love Jesus, and Jesus hates fags."   Frankly, I'm fairly confident Jesus himself would refuse to provide a cake with a picture of two men on it (or twelve).   That's how he rolled.  Excluding people with whom he disagreed and taking petty measures to marginalize them.  Tax collectors, prostitutes, Romans.  He was always marginalizing the people his religious culture most disagreed with.

I respect their right to decide how to operate their business.  I also choose to utilize my right to take my business elsewhere.  The notion of a bakery judging my morality with every order for some reason really kills my appetite. 

[Cats Cats Cats]

I dont think its a big deal. I have been asked to paint some things, and refused, that I consider "distasteful" and can think of lots of things I would not paint on moral grounds if asked to. (for instance I absolutely refuse to paint Elvis Presley on velvet) They can hire someone else. And, I can buy cakes at a different store.

Btw, you can get married here in Oklahoma. My best friend and his better half got married at a church here about 4 years ago. Large ceremony, family, friends, pastor of the church officiating. The church and the people there were very welcoming and kind about it. Then everyone trucked downtown to have the reception at Lolas,,, and yes there was a cake, with 2 grooms on it lol. I hope to get married someday too,,, still working on getting a date, first thing first ya know. I don't need to have a gov. piece of paper to have a cake either lol. 

I find it humorous that on Marriage the government is the final authority of what you can or can't do.  Next maybe they can regulate when and where you can pray and in what church.

[sgrizzle]

Merritt's can do what they want and I believe in 6 months this will be mostly forgotten. As noted they refused to do a political cake that was in line with their beliefs as well (anti-abortion cake) and if they feel making a "gay cake" (which I never knew cakes had a gender) will cause them to lose customers, then it's probably the right decision for them.

I don't go to Merritt's often for other reasons, I doubt my tiny amount of business will be affected on way or other just because they won't make my Star Trek cake.

[PonderInc]

Cake decorating...that's so gay...

Hey, Merritt's is a private company, and they have the right to pick and choose what they will and won't create.

Of course, customers have choices, too...and they have the right to purchase from any business they choose.  There are probably many companies in town that would be happy to cater to the gay community's cake baking, donut, and cookie-buying needs... And I'm sure the gay community will be happy to spread the word, and take their buiness elsewhere.

Me, I'll be heading to Ann's or Fellini's or Petty's (or Impressions, for pies).  I just prefer to enjoy a world without the double-standards and silly discrimination based on the non-teachings of Jesus... and I'd rather spend my money in establishments that have a broader, more welcoming view.  (Economic karma, if you will.)

Besides, I think that Merritt's quality has suffered quite a bit in recent years.  Everything's overly sweet and gooey... and what happened to the sausage rolls?

Anybody have a recommendation for a good sausage roll in this town?

[PonderInc]

Wow, Grizzle, that Kirk/Spock lip lock is hot! 

And I always thought Patrick Stewart was the sexy one...

[Conan71]

Cake decorating...that's so gay...

Hey, Merritt's is a private company, and they have the right to pick and choose what they will and won't create.

Of course, customers have choices, too...and they have the right to purchase from any business they choose.  There are probably many companies in town that would be happy to cater to the gay community's cake baking, donut, and cookie-buying needs... And I'm sure the gay community will be happy to spread the word, and take their buiness elsewhere.

Me, I'll be heading to Ann's or Fellini's or Petty's (or Impressions, for pies).  I just prefer to enjoy a world without the double-standards and silly discrimination based on the non-teachings of Jesus... and I'd rather spend my money in establishments that have a broader, more welcoming view.  (Economic karma, if you will.)

Besides, I think that Merritt's quality has suffered quite a bit in recent years.  Everything's overly sweet and gooey... and what happened to the sausage rolls?

Anybody have a recommendation for a good sausage roll in this town?

Paradise Donuts on 15th & Evanston (the old Rex Chicken) has great sausage rolls.  I usually go there because A) there's a drive through B) usually not a long line C) very nice family-owned business.  Two rolls and a medium coffee for $4 including sales tax.  The Donut shop next to Jim's "Never On Sunday" also has a pretty good sausage.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Merritt's can do what they want and I believe in 6 months this will be mostly forgotten. As noted they refused to do a political cake that was in line with their beliefs as well (anti-abortion cake) and if they feel making a "gay cake" (which I never knew cakes had a gender) will cause them to lose customers, then it's probably the right decision for them.

I don't go to Merritt's often for other reasons, I doubt my tiny amount of business will be affected on way or other just because they won't make my Star Trek cake.

Did you just have that spock/kirk picture lying around?  I don't even want to know what you had to search for to find that.   

[cannon_fodder]

Anybody have a recommendation for a good sausage roll in this town?

Holy crap do I ever!

At ~1378 N. Yale, or N. Yale and E. Oklahoma Street there is a little donut shop. For the life of me I can't recall the name.  But it doesn't matter.  BEST SAUSAGE ROLLS, EVER.

As seen here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Tulsa&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=UKvoSbCRBYuWMbiR6ewF&ll=36.175193,-95.922478&spn=0.003048,0.004828&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=36.175301,-95.922478&panoid=o7veTbUmxdkgGmLr5t-42A&cbp=12,237.84080045194594,,0,-8.775960985194597

[Renaissance]

A lot of people aren't comfortable with overt depictions of homosexuality--who really knows why?  I think it's important to accept that many folks can't change their traditional viewpoint overnight just because it is suddenly framed as an issue of hate or civil rights or double standard.  

Two dudes kissing is, for some, a pretty radical change from what they're used to.  I say, leave 'em alone if they don't want to be around it.  Not everybody wants to check the next box on the progressive social agenda.  Meh - we still live in Oklahoma.  Next issue?

[sgrizzle]

Did you just have that spock/kirk picture lying around?  I don't even want to know what you had to search for to find that.   

I was more impressed with finding a political cartoon about gay cake.

That image would make an interesting alternate ending to the episode "Amok Time."

[TheArtist]

Heck I found that Spock-Kurk image filthy and distasteful lol.  Way to go sgrizzle lol.

[carltonplace]

Holy crap do I ever!

At ~1378 N. Yale, or N. Yale and E. Oklahoma Street there is a little donut shop. For the life of me I can't recall the name.  But it doesn't matter.  BEST SAUSAGE ROLLS, EVER.

As seen here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Tulsa&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=UKvoSbCRBYuWMbiR6ewF&ll=36.175193,-95.922478&spn=0.003048,0.004828&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=36.175301,-95.922478&panoid=o7veTbUmxdkgGmLr5t-42A&cbp=12,237.84080045194594,,0,-8.775960985194597

Cannon and Conan? Inserting a search for good sausage rolls into a conversation about gay cakes? tsk tsk.  I expected better of you. Drizzle brings Spock and Kurk [sic] into the mix to make the Artist barf? Not very PC.

Merrits just sounds "anti-gay cake"
Mallory's Mud Pies on the other hand