Christian Bakers in Texas Receive Abuse, Threats of Violence after Refusing to Make Gay Wedding Cake

The Christian owners of a Texas-based bakeshop have received a deluge of threats after they refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

On Feb. 17, Ben Valencia and Luis Marmolejo went to Kern's Bake Shop to order a cake for their upcoming wedding. After the Christian owners turned down the order, the gay couple went to the press and accused the Delormes of discrimination, according to Breitbart.

After the story was published, LGBT activists flooded Yelp and other social networks with vulgar comments, attacking the Delormes. Some called them "racist criminals" and "homophobics," while others even threatened their family and the bakeshop.

Kern's Bake Shop owners Edie and David Delorme have since become the target of hate mail, physical threats, and abusive reviews on social networking platforms. The Delormes, both Baptist Christians, say they are simply running their business according to their conscience and Christian beliefs, Fox News reports.

The Delormes have long made it a practice to avoid taking on business that would run in conflict with their Christian faith. Such things include cakes with "risqué" themes or anything related to alcohol or tobacco.

The Christian bakers affirm that they have no problem with serving gay cutomers, and would treat them as any other customer. However, just as they would avoid creating products that promote alcohol, tobacco or other things against their beliefs, they would refuse to bake a cake celebrating a ceremony that goes against their beliefs on marriage.

"We feel like if we are going to be putting our name on something, we want it to encourage Godly values," said Edie.

David has voiced his concerns over the threats being sent their way just because they want to remain faithful to who they are and to their Christian beliefs. He has said that just as homosexuals are free to live their lives the way they want to, they also want to be able to practice their faith and run their business according to who they are; Christians faithful to God's ways.

As of now, no formal charges have been filed against the Christian owners of Kern's Bake Shop. The Delormes, on the other hand, have sought legal counsel to prepare for a possible lawsuit. First Liberty attorney Michael Berry is representing them and the organization says they are prepared to defend the Christian couple.