Anti-Gay Oregon Bakers Appeal To State Supreme Court

Portland’s ABC affiliate reports:

An appeal has been filed with the Oregon Supreme Court in hopes of overturning a $135,000 penalty given to the owners of a Gresham bakery who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple.

The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a decision by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to penalize owners of Sweet Cakes $135,000. Melissa and Aaron Klein had refused to bake a cake for Rachel Bowman-Cryer and her wife, Laurel, back in February 2013.

The state ruled Sweet Cakes had discriminated against the lesbian couple, and in July 2015, Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian ordered the Kleins pay $135,000 for emotional damages suffered.

The decision was upheld last December. The Kleins have already paid the $135,000 in damages, but that money was held in a government escrow pending the appeal court’s decision.

The Kleins have raised over $500,000 in donations via a Christian crowdfunding site. (Tipped by JMG reader Ted)