A Christian baker in the US state of Colorado has lost his appeal against a discrimination ruling in a gay wedding cake row.

Following the earlier ruling against Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop by Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission that he had discriminated against a gay couple in 2012 for refusing to supply a cake for their wedding day, the baker took his case to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Arguing against the Commission decision, Phillips contended that his constitutional First Amendment right to the free expression of his religion had been adversely affected by Colorado’s anti-discrimination legislation, and at a time when the state itself did not recognise same-sex unions. In his own defence against the discrimination finding, Philips also cited examples of his willingness to supply other bakery products to gay customers, such as birthday cakes.

However, the Court of Appeals rejected his line of argument, ruling instead that “discrimination on the basis of one’s opposition to same-sex marriage is discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation”.

Reacting to the failed appeal, Philips said the case demonstrated that Christians are now “entitled to believe, but not entitled to act on those beliefs”.

“You’re not free if your beliefs are confined to your mind,” he said.

The Masterpiece Cakeshop has ceased offering wedding cakes as a legal remedy to the issue raised by the court case.