Sweet Karma: After Backlash Over Pride Cookies, Texas Bakery Sells Out

A Texas bakery that experienced anti-LGBTQ+ backlash for selling rainbow heart cookies for Pride Month, is now enjoying some sweet karma, selling out its whole inventory this past weekend.

Confections, located in the east Texas town of Lufkin, posted a picture of the cookies on its Facebook page last Wednesday, with the caption "More LOVE. Less hate. Happy Pride to all our LGBTQ friends! All lovers of cookies and happiness are welcome here."

But the next day, the bakery reported it had lost an order for five dozen summer-themed cookies, which its workers had just finished decorating, and "a significant amount of followers" because of the rainbow cookie post. "My heart is heavy," the bakery operator posted. "Honestly I never thought a post that literally said more love less hate would result in this kind of backlash to a very small business that is struggling to stay afloat and spread a little cheer through baked goods."

Confections' owners and supportive customers had the last laugh, however. The bakery sold out of its goods Friday and Saturday (it's closed Sundays and Mondays), and its Facebook page got 11,000 likes from around the world, The Guardian reports. The owners put up a photo on Facebook of a line of customers stretching down the block. Even after all the baked goods were gone, several patrons donated money to the owners' chosen charity, animal rescue. "We (my sister and co-owner Miranda and our fabulous baker Felicia) are just so humbled and grateful and moved by this outpouring of love," co-owner Dawn Dolder wrote on Facebook.

The bakery is attracting some high-profile customers. Brian Cuban, a Dallas attorney and brother of media and sports mogul Mark Cuban, promised to place an order soon, Texas TV station KYTX reports. "When things slow down a bit, let us know if shipping is possible. I'd like to support you," Brian Cuban told Confections. "If shipping isn't possible, I'll buy some by phone/email and you can donate my cookies to a local LGBTQ org or children's charity."

Lufkin is located in Texas's First Congressional District, which is represented by noted homophobe Louie Gohmert. It's doubtful that he or his staffers (he has a district office in Lufkin, just a few blocks from Confections) were among the buyers, but it would be interesting to see his reaction if someone sent him some Pride cookies.