Celebrity Cake Designer Steps Up for Gay Couple Denied Wedding Cake

When Brandi Ray and Michelle Schmidt were turned away from Susie’s Sweets in Burns, Tennessee, they took to social media to share their experience.

After going through the cake tasting and designing, and coming up with a quote, Ray said the owner of the shop, Susie Dennison, texted her after seeing her wife-to-be’s name on the order form and declined to bake the cake.

“Brandi! I really enjoyed our time together and I truly wish you the best but after realizing that your union will be of the same sex, I cannot with my spiritual conviction and beliefs, do your cake!” the text read, far too enthusiastically. “I want you to know in saying that, I do love you in The Lord!”

Ray and Schmidt became yet another same-sex couple out of many showing the country how just because same-sex marriage is legal now, doesn’t mean it’s easy to find vendors willing to help you.

But in addition to the outpouring of support Ray and Schmidt received from people who were disappointed in the cake shop’s discrimination, they also got an even better offer for a wedding cake.

Nashville-based celebrity cake designer Jay Qualls reached out to the couple and offered to work with them to design a cake for their happy day — for free.

Qualls is no stranger to their struggle. When he got married to his husband three years ago, he says they were rejected from Cumberland Presbyterian Church, their venue of choice.

“This has to stop,” he said. “It’s discriminatory. I can’t sit back and allow this, as a gay man who has a very healthy and meaningful life with two adult children who are loved, and a very meaningful relationship.”

He added: “When you are serving the public, you have to be willing to serve all the public."

Ray and Schmidt now have this gracious gift to look forward to on their wedding day, with the cake designer promising the two "anything they want" for their cake.

"We are shocked and grateful for all the positive support," Ray said.