WHAT'S NEXT

Tell Indianapolis City Market: All Customers Deserve Equal Service
  1. Signatures
    2,793 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. Indianapolis City Market
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Dec 21, 2010

In September 2010, a bakery in Indianapolis refused to accept an order for rainbow-frosted baked goods to celebrate National Coming Out Day. The bakery said that they could not accept the order, because they don't approve of homosexuality. In the wake of that incident, thousands of people emailed both the bakery and the city of Indianapolis, urging them to root out discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Finally, a settlement has been reached, where the bakery will recognize a non-discrimination policy that protects people on the basis of sexual orientation, and will post that policy in an area that is viewable to the public at their establishment.

A gay student group at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) tried to place an order witha  bakery vendor at the Indianapolis City Market for an upcoming National Coming Out Day event. They had hoped to order cookies or cupcakes with rainbow frosting.

But instead of being given adequate service, they were told by the bakery vendor, Just Cookies, that their order couldn't be accommodated. Apparently, it violated the "family values" of the bakery to fulfill an order for a gay rights event.

"I explained we're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was best not to do that," said Just Cookies co-owner David Stockton to a local Fox television station. "We have our values, and you know, some things ... for instance, if someone wants a cookie with an obscenity, well, we're not going to do that."

But a baked goods order asking for rainbow frosting? That's hardly obscene.

Is this the right environment and climate that the Indianapolis City Market wants to send to its customers? Send the City Market a message that they should make sure all vendors treat customers with dignity and equality, regardless of their sexual orientation.

 

Recent Signatures

Please make sure all customers are treated with dignity

Dear Indianapolis City Market,

Recently, a group of gay students from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) tried to place an order for an event with one of your vendors, Just Cookies. The order was supposed to be for baked goods with rainbow frosting, meant to commemorate National Coming Out Day in mid-October.

But instead of being allowed to place the order, your vendor, Just Cookies, refused.

"I explained we're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was best not to do that," said Just Cookies co-owner David Stockton to a local Fox television station. "We have our values, and you know, some things ... for instance, if someone wants a cookie with an obscenity, well, we're not going to do that."

But what's obscene about rainbow frosted baked goods?

Instead, this sends the dangerous message that vendors within the Indianapolis City Market treat customers differently based on their sexual orientation.

Please use this as a teachable moment to make sure that all customers who shop at the Indianapolis City Market are treated fairly and with dignity. No one should be refused business because of their sexual orientation.

Thank you for your time.

[Your name]

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