Same sex wedding cake case makes it to the US Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (KGO) -- The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case that looks at whether the first amendment protects a baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same sex couple.

It's the first case involving gay rights since the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that states could not prevent same sex couples from getting married. In this case, Charlie Craig and David Mullins were turned down when they asked to have a custom wedding cake created by Masterpiece Bakery in Colorado in 2012.

The Owner, Jack Phillips says same sex marriage is against his religious beliefs.

He reiterated his stance before a crowd of supporters outside the high court Tuesday. "It's hard to believe this government is forcing me to choose between providing for my family and employees and violating my relationship with God."

Colorado has a law that bans discrimination against gays and lesbians in public accommodations and the couple, Charlie Craig and David Mullins says what happened to them was wrong. Mullins says "we don't want another couple to go through the pain and humiliation that we suffered."

The Bakery owner is also citing freedom of speech and expression, claiming he is a "cake artist." U.C. Hastings Professor of Constitutional Law, Matthew Coles says the justices will have to decide where to draw the line. "If making a cake for a wedding constitutes free expression, does making the flower arrangement?"

The Court is expected to rule by late June.