Gay people send messages of support to Christian baker who refused to make same-sex marriage cake

Gay people are sending messages of support for Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, whose case over his refusal to make a same-sex wedding cake is set to be heard at the U.S. Supreme Court next month.

On Monday, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) posted a video on Facebook featuring two individuals expressing their support for Phillips.

"I'm TJ, and I'm Matt, we're gay and we're here to support Jack Phillips...to buy stuff from him, and support him because we don't think any artist should be forced to create for something that violates their beliefs," the two individuals said in the short clip.

The ADF said that it is possible to support both same-sex marriage and Phillips, who was found guilty of violating the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in 2014, after he declined an order to make a wedding cake for gay couple Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig in 2012.

The baker said that he serves gay customers like any other, but he refuses to use his talents for a gay wedding because it would go against his religious beliefs that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Phillips has previously stated that he has rejected orders for custom cakes that violate his conscience, including cakes celebrating Halloween, bachelor or bachelorette parties, and anti-American sentiment.

Last week, a number of religious activists, political leaders and clergy gathered in a rally at the Lakewood campus of Colorado Christian University to show their support for Phillips.

During the rally, the baker revealed that he has lost 40 percent of his business and many staff members since the legal battle started over five years ago.

Nearly 1,300 multifaith leaders and assorted theologically liberal religious groups have recently filed a brief before the Supreme Court, insisting that Phillips should make gay wedding cakes regardless of his religious convictions.

The ADF asserted that the freedom of expression is at stake on the Supreme Court case that will begin on Dec. 5.

It would be the first case to be considered by the high court involving whether bakers, florists, filmmakers and other creative professionals who provide wedding services must serve orders celebrating same-sex ceremonies.

Kristen K. Waggoner, general counsel and senior vice president of U.S. legal advocacy at ADF, said that allowing Phillips to "live out his convictions shows what a pluralistic society should look like. It would demonstrate what it means to have the freedom to disagree yet to be tolerant amidst those disagreements."

"That is why so many supporters of same-sex marriage filed briefs supporting Jack before the Supreme Court. It's also why Jack has had so many customers tell him that even though they disagree with him on marriage, they support his right to live out who he is," Waggoner added.