Texas family: We’re getting death threats for not baking a cake for same-sex ‘marriage’
LONGVIEW,
Texas – LGBT activists are threatening
the family of a couple whose Christian beliefs did not allow them to bake a
cake for a same-sex "wedding" ceremony, according to an attorney for
the couple.
Edie and
David Delorme took over Kern's Bake Shop last year, but trouble reportedly
arose after they declined to bake a cake for Ben Valencia and Luis Marmolejo on
February 17. Michael Berry of First Liberty, who was retained by the Delormes
even though a lawsuit has not been filed, told TheBlaze that trouble includes false Yelp reviews, malicious Facebook comments, and threats against the physical safety of the Delormes and at least one of their children.
"Our [17-year old] son got a call … where they threatened to burn our house down and violate him with a broken beer bottle," Edie told The Blaze. "That was probably the worst."
"Our [17-year old] son got a call … where they threatened to burn our house down and violate him with a broken beer bottle," Edie told The Blaze. "That was probably the worst."
Berry said that "the Delormes property has been damaged. They've
experienced minor vandalism at their home, including their mailbox being
destroyed. We reported both the vandalism and the threats they have received to
the Harrison County Sheriff. The Sheriff's office sent a deputy to talk to the
Delormes and they are now patrolling the area to make sure no additional acts
are perpetrated against the Delormes."
The Delormes
say they aren't targeting same-sex couples, but merely following their
sincerely held Christian beliefs. They have declined to make baked goods that
promote alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, and cakes with risqué messages,
according to Berry.
Edie told
TheBlaze that because cakes are a "celebration" of weddings, "we
want to make that cake the most perfect for them, exactly what they wanted … we
really pour ourselves into it, and we take delight in seeing their joy in what
we were able to create for them."
"That
cake is used to celebrate a union. We just don't feel like we're supposed to
take part in the celebration of that union, because it's a violation of our
faith," she said.
For his part,
Valencia told the Longview News-Journal that the rejection of the
cake caused him to "feel dehumanized."
"It just
kind of makes you feel dehumanized," he said. "People shouldn't
have to worry about going into a business, especially a public business that
serves the public, and have to worry about being turned away for something, for
who you are."
David said
that when they get harassing phone calls and fake orders, "We just say,
'You have a nice day,'" he told TheBlaze. "Scripture requires us to
turn the other cheek, so that's what we do."
The Delormes
say support outnumbers negative responses four to one – including a gay
customer who has continued being a customer and a gay couple who offered support
and an apology.
"A
couple of gentlemen came in … and apologized to us, which, we told them we
appreciated that," Edie said.
"We hope
everyone will approach this situation with tolerance and respect," Berry
told LifeSiteNews. "In a diverse society, people will have differences of
opinion. We need to protect diversity of thought and the right for people to
disagree peacefully. It would be very inappropriate for a lawsuit to be filed.
Both state and federal law protect the Delormes' right to operate their
business according to their faith."
