Bakery owners ordered to pay $135,000 over same-sex wedding cake
April 28, 2015
One year after ruling that the owners of an Oregon bakery violated a non-discrimination law when one of its owners declined to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has awarded $135,000 in damages to the couple.
Same-sex marriage was not legal in Oregon when the incident took place in early 2013.
The judgment against the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, proposed by an administrative judge, is tentative and may be amended administratively or overturned in court.
The owners have closed their store in Gresham, Oregon, and reopened as a home-based business.
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Further information:
- Sweet Cakes: 5 things you should know about proposed BOLI order (The Oregonian)
- Proposed Order On Damages Issued Against Oregon Bakery That Refused Same-Sex-Wedding Cake (Religion Clause)
- Sweet Cakes
- Oregon: bakery owners violated civil rights in refusing to make wedding cake for lesbian couple (CWN, 1/22/14)
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Posted by: veniteadoremus1822 -
Apr. 30, 2015 5:49 AM ET USA
The irony. In many areas of Islamic control, a tax or jizyah is imposed on infidels--predominantly Christians--as a means of subjugating them to the state. And now, in this country, a Sodom and Gomorrah tax is imposed on heterosexuals--predominantly Christians--in order to once again subjugate them to the state. There is good news, however. In some Islamic countries this tax is being phased out.
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Posted by: PS 26 -
Apr. 28, 2015 8:54 PM ET USA
We may all be asked to sacrifice in some way. May Our Lord Bless these folks as they transition their business and life.
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Posted by: unum -
Apr. 28, 2015 7:30 PM ET USA
This is just round one of a national struggle between political rights and the freedom of religion guaranteed by our constitution. Our political system is incapable of resolving moral issues as the Civil War taught us, and our politicians will regret ever using moral issues for political advantage.
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Posted by: 1Jn416 -
Apr. 28, 2015 9:30 AM ET USA
According to the Oregonian story, the $135,000 is for emotional suffering inflicted on the lesbian couple. Aside from this ridiculous idea that bakers and photographers are "public accommodations," have we really come to the point where hurting someone's feelings is worthy of a six-figure fine? How much would Jesus or St. Paul be fined today, I wonder?
