Crowdfunding Website Seeks to Raise $200K for Colo. Baker Who Refused Gay Wedding Cake

A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to support a Denver-area baker and his family after an appeals court ruled that he could not deny to bake wedding cakes for same-sex weddings based on his religious beliefs.

Last week, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cake Shop in Denver, would be held liable if he continued to refuse to bake wedding cakes for same-sex marriage nuptials.

Phillips had previously refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple in 2012, citing his Christian religious beliefs.

A crowdfunding campaign set up on the Continue to Give website calls on supporters of Phillips and his family to donate a goal of $200,000 to "help Jack Phillips and his family as they fight for their freedom of religion and freedom of speech."

"These attacks are intended to drive Jack out of business. To avoid further harassment and lawsuits and because of the ruling, he has chosen to follow a law that takes away his freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and he has stopped making wedding cakes while his case goes through the courts. Revenue has fallen by about 40% since he stopped making wedding cakes!" the "Support Jack Phillips" page on Continue to Give states.

"As stated in court briefs, for 20 years, Jack has declined to make Halloween cakes, pornographic cakes, profane cakes, etc. Nor would he make Hitler cakes, KKK cakes, or anything of that kind if he were asked," the crowdfunding site adds.