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Gay Rights Advocates Protest Lakewood Cake Shop

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Supporters of a gay couple denied a cake for their upcoming wedding have taken to the streets. They're boycotting Masterpiece Cakeshop.

With their rainbow flags raised high, a group of protesters campaigned for gay rights. Gay couple Dave Mullin and Charlie Craig are upset the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Jack Phillips, won't make a cake for their wedding because of religious opposition.

"I'm a human. It feels frustrating. Obviously they have the right to do what they want but you know it doesn't feel good from the inside," Craig said.

They protested across the street from the cake shop. At the same time, customers were inside the store showing their support for the owner standing up against gay marriage.

"He said 'no,' he's a Christian. He believes in traditional marriage and he can," shop supporter Doreen Rossi said.

Supporters enjoyed slices of cake while reading the Bible at the Christian cake shop. At the same time, the protesters continued to push their message of marriage equality despite profanity and homophobic slurs being shouted by passing drivers.

The protesters are trying to raise awareness for what they're calling discriminatory practices, but Phillips said that business has been booming ever since news of the incident first broke.

"Business wasn't affected at all during the first part. Since then we have three or four times more people every day," Phillips said.

"There's a part of my heart that wishes that it wouldn't be so, but you know in the end we're here to raise awareness and you can only do that one person at a time," Mullen said.

Despite the protest, Phillips still plans to uphold his religious beliefs. His supporters respect him for that.

"They can go across the street to the bakery across the street and have a cake made," Rossi said.

Protesters say more than 4,000 people have now signed a petition demanding that Masterpiece Cakeshop change their policy.

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