Sweet Cakes By Melissa Guilty In Anti-Gay Discrimination Case Oregon Officer Rules

An administrative hearings judge has ruled that Sweet Cakes by Melissa did discriminate against a lesbian couple two years ago, moving the case another step forward to resolution.

To hear the religious right talk about their patron saint Melissa Klein, you might think the owner of the Colorado bakery had been forced out of business and is bankrupt after having to pay fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars after the entire LGBT community rose up and attacked her.

Not the case.

In fact, the case against Sweet Cakes By Melissa isn’t even over yet, which means that no fine, if there even is to be one, has been imposed. And, should you be so inclined, you can still purchase a wedding cake, or other likely delicious confection via the Klein’s online store. They’re still in business and no one is trying to put them out of business.

But late last week an administrative hearings officer – essentially, a judge – ruled that Sweet Cakes By Melissa did in fact discriminate against a same-sex couple more than two years ago. Yes, that’s how long this case has been going on. 

And it rejected the Kleins’ attorney’s request to side in their favor and award the bakers $200,000 in court costs, damages, and attorney fees.

Nice try there.

An administrative law judge “said in an interim order that Aaron and Melissa Klein unlawfully discriminated against the same-sex couple by denying them full and equal access to a place of public accommodation,” Oregon Live reports today. Judge Alan McCullough “found that the undisputed facts in the case supported charges of unlawful discrimination under the Oregon Equality Act.”

The case is not yet over. Next month, a hearing will convene to award damages to the same-sex couple, who at the time were Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman, and are now the Bowman-Cryers.

Assuming that hearing goes as expected and the same-sex coupe is awarded damages, we can expect the Kleins to appeal that ruling to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Their attorneys have already attempted to have Oregon’s labor commissioner – the man who ultimately will sign off on the case – removed, claiming he is supportive of same-sex marriage.

Justice moves slowly.

 

Image: Screenshot via YouTube