A bakery in the US state of Colorado has been cleared of discrimination after it refused to supply cakes bearing anti-same-sex marriage messages.

The case, first brought before the Colorado Civil Rights Division last year, originated with a Christian, William Jack, who asked Azucar Bakery in Denver to create two Bible-shaped cakes, one bearing the biblical passages “God hates sin. Psalm 45:7,” “Homosexuality is a detestable sin. Leviticus 18:2,” “God loves sinners,” and “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.” The second cake was to portray an image of two grooms, holding hands with a red ‘X’ covering them.

While agreeing to bake the cakes, Azucar informed Jack it would not use the text or image, as the owners would not discriminate against homosexuals. Jack subsequently argued before the Rights Division that the refusal in fact discriminated against him based on his religious beliefs.

However, the Civil Rights Division disagreed and found in favour of Azucar, ruling that the refusal was based on “derogatory language and imagery” and not on anti-Christian sentiment.

The Colorado ruling comes in the wake of a similar case last year in which the body ruled against a Christian bakery, Masterpiece Cake, which refused to bake a cake for a same-sex marriage, citing discrimination in that case.