Final Verdict In Oregon Bakers Case Comes To $135,000 – Right Wing Furious Over ‘Gay Fascism Tax’
In the Sweet Cakes by Melissa anti-gay discrimination case, the final verdict has been handed down, and conservatives are apoplectic.
Aaron and Melissa Klein are right-wing martyrs held up by anti-gay groups and individuals as victims who supposedly lost their business and went bankrupt merely for observing their Christian faith.
In reality, they are the owners of the very much still in business Sweet Cakes by Melissa, an Oregon-based bakery that refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, in violation of that state’s nondiscrimination ordinance. Why? Because they refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, and that’s against the law.
By now, many people know that in 2013, Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman – now the Bowman-Cryers – tried to order a wedding cake from the Kleins. Aaron Klein, Melissa’s husband, refused, citing his religious beliefs.
The brides-to-be sued and in a long and drawn-out case, they won.Â
The final judgment came down Thursday, and the Kleins are being fined $135,000.
The money shouldn’t be a problem for them. Franklin Graham has been hosting a fundraising campaign for them via his Samaritan’s Purse charity, and a GoFundMe campaign that pulled in reportedly about $60,000 after taxes before it was shut down. There is also another fundraising campaign via Continue To Give that’s taken in over $55,000. The Kleins via their Facebook page are promoting other fundraisers too, like one by the Lynchwood Church of God, and their P.O. box address for please who wish to send them cash or checks directly.Â
Meanwhile, look at these headlines from right wing blogs:
Ore. Silences Bakers Who Refused to Make Cake for Lesbians
Happy Independence Day — Now Fork Over $135,000
Christian Bakers Fined, Gagged in Gay Cake Case
Bakery Owners Who Refused Lesbian Wedding Service Just Told What State Will Do To Them
Happy Independence Day: State of Oregon fines Christian bakers $135,000 over a wedding cake
Oregon’s Minister of Thoughtcrime orders bakery to pay $135,000 to ‘mentally raped’ lesbian couple, stay silent about beliefs
And these responses via Twitter:
Gay mafia gets bakery charged $135,000 for their religious freedom. http://t.co/jgV87RxbZx pic.twitter.com/08aQQ7pdD7
— Jim Hughes (@TheJimHughes) July 3, 2015
Patriots – the owners of Sweet Cakes By Melissa are being persecuted by anti-Christian activists. Please help! http://t.co/DttSWLEKh3
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) July 3, 2015
‘My gay marriage won’t hurt you!’ —>> Final order: Sweet Cakes bakery must pay $135,000 to lesbian couple http://t.co/dFioi3KvBU
— Sister Toldjah (@sistertoldjah) July 3, 2015
Conform to gay fascism tax: Sweet Cakes by Melissa owes $135,000 in damages for gay wedding refusal http://t.co/1sMFghI1BF via @WashTimes
— Marcel J. van Rossum (@CarrollStandard) July 3, 2015
Gay are defending Oregon’s fascism on my timeline… Gay Reich is on the ascent. pic.twitter.com/SohNb2rnAY
— John Nolte (@NolteNC) July 3, 2015
Oregon’s Tyrannical CofLabor @Avakian_BOLI Silencing Christian Bakers #SweetCakes http://t.co/69oamp2wMS #ReligiousLiberty #RedNationRising
— RedNationRising (@RedNationRising) July 3, 2015
The Kleins are appealing the decision.
Here are the Kleins last year at a Family Research Council Action conference, talking about their case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK3tx4eAls4Â
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Image: Screenshot via YouTube
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