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Cake.jpg
Aaron and Melissa Klein, who run a small family bakery in Oregon, say they've gotten "overwhelming" support after refusing to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple because of their Christian faith. A Food Network cake star has offered to make the couple's cake for free. (Sweet Cakes by Melissa Facebook photo)

Support, criticism for Oregon baker who won't make a wedding cake for lesbian couple

February 4, 2013 @ 6:11 pm (Updated: 3:59 pm - 2/5/13 )

The owner of an Oregon bakery who didn't want to make a wedding cake for a same sex couple says he's being vilified because of his personal views about marriage.

The dispute involves a Portland woman, her fiancee and fiancee's mother. The mom and one of the brides-to-be went to Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham to order a cake.

Parties involved have now retained lawyers and won't talk about the incident, but one of the women told The Oregonian newspaper the baker refused to take their cake order.

Aaron Klein, who runs the bakery with his wife, reportedly called the lesbian couple "abominations unto the lord."

Klein denies calling the couple "abominations" and says same-sex marriage goes against his Christian faith, so he does not want to make a wedding cake for the couple.

The bakery owners' beliefs are not hidden. The Sweet Cakes website has a Bible verse on the homepage.

They also state: "We here at Sweet Cakes strongly believe that when a man and woman come together to be joined as one, it is truly one of the most special days of their lives."

The bakery was closed Monday, but supporters plan to show up at the shop Tuesday when it opens. In an email, the owner says the response to his decision has been "overwhelming."

"I am in full support," says Debby Tiner through Facebook. The bakery owner is "standing up for his God given rights to believe in the word of God. Amen to him."

"What ever happened to 'We have the right to refuse service to anyone?' Read the Bible and see what God has to say about this issue," says Harriet Perigo.

"If he doesn't want to accept their order then why should he have to? Go somewhere else to get your cake made, says Ruth Townsend. "It's a no-brainer."

Meanwhile, Duff Goldman, of the Food Network show, "Ace of Cakes," says he will make a cake for the Portland couple for free. Goldman, who owns Charm City Cakes, also says he'll personally drive it up from Los Angeles and deliver it for their wedding.

In a video on the Huffington Post, Goldman says he wanted to "right a wrong."

The Oregon attorney general's office is investigating a complaint against the bakery because of a state law that declares it is a violation for a business to deny full and equal accommodations for customers based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and other factors.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (174)


  • Add A Comment

  • Dan1 wrote...
    This site should be named to
    February 5, 2013 2:12 pm
    MyGayNorthwest.com. Just leave all the fruitloops alone and let them do what they want.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    There just isn't enough plaid flannel in the region to make a decent train.
    February 5, 2013 2:47 pm
    And just try to find matching Birkenstocks too. I mean, can a Subaru wagon even pull cans on strings? Will there be enough carpeting for the honeymoon? And what about Velcro? I mean I've never seen white Velcro. So many issues.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Clearwater3 wrote...
    All I need to know...
    February 5, 2013 2:50 pm
    https://www.examiner.com/article/sweet-cakes-by-melissa-posts-racist-rant-on-facebook
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Clearwater
    February 5, 2013 3:26 pm
    It's possible that he didn't post that. It may be taken down because it wasn't a legitimate post, or maybe it came down on the advice of his attorney.

    Anyway, this isn't the first time this issue has come up:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEBeBOW9AbA

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Clearwater3 wrote...
    Quite right...
    February 5, 2013 3:43 pm
    The fact is the good people of the State of Oregon have made discrimination based on sexual preference illegal. In the eyes of the law it is no different than discrimination based on race, gender, or age. But rather than suing for some imagined damages (which I don't believe exist because it would be a simple matter to go elsewhere) the state should simple say, "If you cannot operate your business within legal confines, we will void your business license - no license, no business."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Whats next clearwater
    February 5, 2013 4:19 pm
    You can only sell State Approved Products? You can only sell to State Approved People.

    So that means Womens Gyms must now open to men. Gay Bars must serve straight people. How far should it go.

    I know in your dream world there is no Male Female restrooms/showers just restrooms and showers.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Oh and every business that has the sign
    February 5, 2013 4:22 pm
    We reserve the right to refuse service, can now be sued If I feel like I was wronged in any way.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Bakin cakes is gay anyway...
    February 5, 2013 4:03 pm
    Hey! I like to bake cakes. I like to cook. And I am in no way shape or form Homosexual. Nobody is teasing me or calling me Gay and if they are wise or like their teeth, they wont!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gabewalker wrote...
    cake bakin...
    February 5, 2013 4:36 pm
    :) so do I and I'm very secure with that, cookin fool..I probably do a lot of "gay" stuff... then again there are a lot of very manly gay dudes that are probably more masculin then me, haha
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rocketman99 wrote...
    Protect everyone except the Christians?
    February 5, 2013 4:19 pm
    Ron, Don, Ms. Bell Please explain to me where you see hatred and venom with this Baker. The gay rights supporters love to throw out the Hate word, but the reality is that liberals support everyones lifestyles, beliefs, desires, "rights" except those of Christians. Is this Baker and his family not doing exactly what you all wish everyone would do, living their beliefs, not hiding, not acting one way when they feel another? For Gods sake, all you ask is that people live their life with conviction, whatever that conviction may be. Thats all they are trying to do. FREEDOM is the operative word.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Freedom for everyone to liberals
    February 5, 2013 4:21 pm
    is only for those that agree with them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Rocketman99
    February 5, 2013 9:20 pm
    Please explain to me where you see hatred and venom with this Baker.

    Apparently the progressives have changed the meaning of the word "hate" to mean the same thing as "racist".

    The progressive definition of racist is someone who disagrees with them politically. Apparently "hate" means the same thing as well. Too bad, hate and racist used to have entirely different meanings...I guess we don't need those meanings anymore, at least according to the progressives. Idiots still means the same thing it used to I believe. Progressives are idiots.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SleeplessinPuyallup wrote...
    How Ironic..
    February 5, 2013 6:34 pm
    The last statement before the "Comments" section on this page reads: Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria. That is discrimination against my right to act like an azsclown when hiding behind my keyboard. If this post is deleted, then I'll hire a lawyer from lesbiancakeboss.com and submit an informal protest. People have been intolerant of my tomfoolery and occasional outbursts of blatant a5shattery for long enough. I hope these poor victims of discrimination have their cake and eat it too, or whatever it is lesbians like to do with wedding cake behind closed doors. It's none of our business.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Would Jesus have baked that cake for them?
    February 5, 2013 6:58 pm
    My opinion Yes he would have...and he would have baked the best cake too!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Ron_Spins
    February 5, 2013 9:22 pm
    My opinion Yes he would have...and he would have baked the best cake too!

    And likely follwed it up with the same advise He gave the adulterous woman..."go and sin no more."

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dmjones88 wrote...
    He Stood Up for His Beliefs
    February 5, 2013 8:16 pm
    Wrong or Right, he has stood up for his belief with full understanding of the consequences of his actions. How many other people today are willing to do that? But what will they do to him? Harass, intimidate, BULLY and do everything in their power to make sure he and NO ONE else stands up for their beliefs. The state of Oregon which should have slapped him with a civil penalty and be done with it, letting the local citizens vote with their feet. But the state of Oregon is going to waste the tax dollars to investigate him, meaning they will send health inspectors, auditors and any other inspector to his business to find each and every minor infraction possible to ensure that he is made an example of. Bet they try and send social services over to check on his kids welfare as well. Also, got to wonder why no other local baker offered to make the cake for them, or did the media and politicians ignore all local offers to ensure the celebrity and media attention of using Duff?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • nevetssnikpoh wrote...
    Freedom of choice
    February 5, 2013 8:23 pm
    I guess freedom of choice works in one direction only. Tolerance in one direction only. Liberal hypocrites
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Tolerance in one direction only. Liberal hypocrites
    February 5, 2013 9:23 pm
    Progressives aren't liberal. Ultimately they are facist.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    actually...
    February 6, 2013 7:14 am
    i kinda agree. i'm a moderate liberal and i feel like this has gone too far.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    The owner
    February 5, 2013 10:55 pm
    is being cast as the equivalent of a racist who won't serve African-Americans or Asians. Of course, the media and pro-gay groups are all up in arms and want this man punished for daring to have different beliefs than they do. This is no different than a pharmacist refusing, on religious grounds, to sell the morning after pill. The "tolerant" left recognizes no thoughts but their own, and has no reservation about branding and crushing dissenters. There is a simple solution here. If you are unsatisfied, go to another bakery! No demonstrating, no boycotts. The FREE MARKET will fix the issue. If enough people are turned off and don't patronize his bakery, he will feel the economic pinch. The thing is, the strident "activists" don't want to leave it to chance. They would rather bully and intimidate....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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