An Oregon judge has ruled in what has become an iconic anti-gay discrimination case, and the Christian bakery owners are claiming that money will take food out of their children’s mouths.
In January of 2013 Rachel Bowman and her mother went to a local cake bakery to order a wedding cake. The Gresham, Oregon bakery, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, refused the order, despite the fact that their business, as the name implies, was selling wedding cakes. The refusal, from Aaron Klein and his wife Melissa Klein, wasn’t because they were understaffed, or had too many orders, or were closing for vacation. No, their reason, as they told Rachel and her mom, was that Rachel was marrying a woman, and baking a cake for a same-sex couple, they said, violated their Christian faith.
 “I’m very sorry, I believe I have wasted your time,” Aaron Klein says he told Rachel Bowman in his court testimony. “We do not do cakes for same sex weddings.” Klein testified he also quoted Leviticus to Bowman and her mother.
Today, after nearly two years of litigation, a judge awarded Rachel Bowman-Cryer $75,000, and her wife, Laurel Bowman-Cryer, $60,000 in damages for their emotional suffering, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) judge ruled.
That figure could change, and increase up to $150,000 total, or decrease, based on the final decision of State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, The Oregonian reports.
“The facts of this case clearly demonstrate that the Kleins unlawfully discriminated against the Complainants,” the BOLI ruling states. “Under Oregon law, businesses cannot discriminate or refuse service based on sexual orientation, just as they cannot turn customers away because of race, sex, disability, age or religion. Our agency is committed to fair and thorough enforcement of Oregon civil rights laws, including the Equality Act of 2007.”
The Kleins have become martyrs for the religious right, who for years have claimed the lawsuit had already bankrupted them and forced them out of business, which are lies propagated by some of the most ardent anti-gay activists.
UPDATE:Â GoFundMe Cancels Sweet Cakes By Melissa Fundraising Campaign, Bakers Blame ‘Satan’
This afternoon, Melissa Klein took to Facebook to announce the ruling, and to link to a GoFundMe account set up for them today. As of this writing it has received nearly $20,000 in just four hours.Â
“We just found out that the judge has made his decision, he is ordering that we pay $135,000 in emotional damages. This money will not come from the business, but instead would have to be paid from money that should be going to pay for food and housing for us and our 5 children,” Klein wrote. “This amount will financially ruin us. Our government was put in place to protect the people not to punish people because of their faith. We have had many people ask to help, someone kindly set up a go fund me for us. Thank you to all who are willing to fight for religious freedom. God bless.”
One vastly under-reported aspect of the story was the Bowman-Cryers received death threats after the story gained media attention and their personal contact information was posted to Aaron Klein’s personal Facebook page, according to The Oregonian.
Rachel Bowman-Cryer said she and her wife received death threats as media attention and criticism from strangers escalated in the months after the story went national in January 2013.
She said the threats were part of a stream of “hateful, hurtful things” that came after the couple’s contact information (home address, phone and email) was posted on Aaron Klein’s personal Facebook page. She said she feared for her life and her wife’s life.
The death threats and media attention caused the Bowman-Cryers to fear the children they were fostering would be taken away from them, they testified in court.
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Related:
Same-Sex Couple In Sweet Cakes By Melissa Case Received Death Threats
Fox News Reporter Just Can’t Figure Out Facts In Anti-Gay Bakers Story
Sweet Cakes By Melissa Guilty In Anti-Gay Discrimination Case Oregon Officer Rules
Gay Evangelical Raising Dough For Anti-Gay ‘Sweet Cakes’ Bakery
Anti-Gay Christian Baker Says She Is ‘Compassionate’
Christian Baker Who Closed Her Shop Rather Than Serve Gay Couples Breaks Into Tears (Video)
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