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No fine for Oregon baker who refused service to gay couple
MyNorthWest ^ | 20 March 2013 | Linda Thomas

Posted on 03/21/2013 5:35:43 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture

After all the fuss about an Oregon baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, the state says there is "not an investigation into this issue." The dispute involves a Portland woman, her fiancee and fiancee's mother. In February, the mom and one of the brides-to-be went to Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham to order a wedding cake.

Aaron Klein, who runs the bakery with his wife, says same-sex marriage goes against his Christian faith so he would not make a wedding cake for the couple.

After that, the small bakery gained international attention with some supporting their decision and others abhorring it. Duff Goldman, of the Food Network show, "Ace of Cakes," offered to make cake for the Portland couple for free.

Goldman, who owns Charm City Cakes, also said he'd personally drive it up from Los Angeles and deliver it for their wedding.

Despite the concern and controversy, there likely will be no fine for the small bakery.

The Oregon Equality Act of 2007 expressly prohibits businesses from discriminating against customers on the basis of their sexual orientation.

An initial complaint was filed with the Oregon Department of Justice (their state's attorney general's office) fraud division, according to spokesman Jeff Manning. He says they get about 12,000 complaints a year about businesses in the state, but this incident doesn't fall under the regulations involving fraud.

They recommended it be turned over to the Bureau of Labor and Industries, which has a civil rights division responsible for employers in the state.

"We do not have a complaint filed against Sweet Cakes by Melissa so there's not an investigation into the issue," says Charlie Burr, a bureau spokesman.

It would seem a case that was never officially opened, is now closed.

The bakery owner says the rush of business they received from people who supported his position has slowed down, but they are busier than they'd normally be for this time of the year.

They still get a few phone calls denouncing their business, he says.

Klein has no regrets. He's determined to continue standing up for what he and his wife believe - marriage should be between a man and a woman.

"I'd do it all again," says Klein. "I am standing up for what I believe is right. I wouldn't change anything about what I did."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: baker; bakery; fauxmarriage; gaymarriage; gaystapo; homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes; samesexmarriage; traditionalvalues; weddingcake
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To: RoosterRedux

21 posted on 03/21/2013 6:31:05 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: RoosterRedux

Understood and thanks very much.


22 posted on 03/21/2013 6:31:19 PM PDT by laplata
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda
prohibits businesses from discriminating against customers

If he's not doing business with her, isn't she a POTENTIAL customer? If he accepted her order and then gave her a substandard product because she's gay, she'd have a legit complaint.

23 posted on 03/21/2013 6:40:27 PM PDT by PeevedPatriot
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To: CounterCounterCulture
The Oregon Equality Act of 2007 expressly prohibits businesses from discriminating against customers on the basis of their sexual orientation.

He didn't refuse to sell a homo a cake, he refused to sell *anyone* a homo wedding cake. If they just asked for a cake without offensive decorations they would have been fine.

24 posted on 03/21/2013 6:48:49 PM PDT by Reeses
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To: CounterCounterCulture; All

Based on what I know about these cases, noting that the states have never amended the Constitution to protect gay marriage, I think that this issue, along with a similar issue that happened in New Mexico, are good examples of state laws which violate Section 1 of the 14th Amendment. These laws have done so by wrongly abridging BorR privileges and immunities, 1A protected religious expression in these cases.


25 posted on 03/21/2013 6:48:56 PM PDT by Amendment10
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To: RoosterRedux

I think the lesbian couple targeted the Christian baker - I wouldn’t put it past them to try and collect some monies as a wedding gift. (gag).


26 posted on 03/21/2013 6:49:01 PM PDT by Catsrus
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To: PeevedPatriot

I’m sure the state would redefine the term “customer” in this case.


27 posted on 03/21/2013 6:49:08 PM PDT by matt04
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To: CounterCounterCulture

My guess is that the obvious violation of the free exercise clause was likely to get their statute neutered so they slithered away.

No law can demand that a man sin.


28 posted on 03/21/2013 6:51:24 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: laplata
What’s that mean??????

the little statuettes on top of the cake were white

29 posted on 03/21/2013 7:19:37 PM PDT by terycarl
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To: terycarl

Oh, I’m a Honkey, too. LOL


30 posted on 03/21/2013 7:20:26 PM PDT by laplata
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Hot Cross Buns ping.

Thanks CounterCounterCulture.


31 posted on 03/21/2013 8:09:29 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: mass55th

Should have charged a $25,000. non-refundable deposit up front. A little something to direct to a needy charity after the ceremony.....usually runs the queers off without their having legal recourse.


32 posted on 03/21/2013 8:40:08 PM PDT by S.O.S121.500 (Half black,half white......A SKUNK?........................ENFORCE THE BILL OF RIGHTS.(It"s the Law))
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To: CounterCounterCulture
The Oregon Equality Act of 2007 expressly prohibits businesses from discriminating against customers on the basis of their sexual orientation.

He did not discriminate against them for their sexual orientation. He made a judgement that he would not make a cake for a gay wedding function. If the person who showed up to place the order had been straight, he would have still said no.

does he have the right to say NO to the KKK should they order a cake (white frosting on a white cake)?

33 posted on 03/21/2013 9:07:45 PM PDT by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: RoosterRedux

I agree.
but shoot straight.


34 posted on 03/21/2013 9:21:32 PM PDT by willardwx
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To: CounterCounterCulture

I think the pro-homosexual groups realized that if this case went to court, a Christian public interest law firm would offer free legal services and win big.


35 posted on 03/21/2013 10:05:24 PM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: Pollster1

That’s mighty generous of our ruling class - choosing not to fine free Americans for exercising their God-given rights that are supposed to be inviolate under the First Amendment.


Unbelievable that Christians running a small business have to submit to elitists sitting on perches of social judgement, either way.

That is “freedom” that is here today and gone at the whim of a demented witch hunt being conducted tommorrow.

One of the big lies for the homo mafia is that if you do not cooperate with and promote their demands, you will lose so much business, you will fail. Being gay is good for business!

Personally, I pay attention and shop accordingly. To some, money can’t buy you love. : )


36 posted on 03/22/2013 12:35:53 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: laplata

It means someone is half in the bag and posting gibberish on the net.


37 posted on 03/23/2013 2:29:27 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro can't pass E-verify)
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To: A.A. Cunningham

LOL That’s what I thought.

Thanks.


38 posted on 03/23/2013 2:37:36 AM PDT by laplata
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