Fact Check: There’s a False Claim Circulating on Social Media About the Christian Bakers...

The Blaze ^ | 7/13/15 | Billy Hallowell

[Impala64ssa]

...Who Declined to Make a Gay Wedding Cake and Were Fined $135,000

A Raw Story report published on Friday led with the headline, “Oregon bakers weren’t fined over cake — they were punished for sharing lesbian couple’s home address.” But is that claim true true? The short answer: Absolutely not.

As has been widely reported, Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweetcakes by Melissa, an Oregon bakery, were fined $135,000 in “compensatory damages for emotional, mental and physical suffering,” after they declined to make a wedding cake for Rachel Cryer-Bowman and Laurel Bowman-Cryer. Nowhere in the official order does it say that publishing the complainants’ address led to damages.

In fact, the document makes it patently clear that the judgement was imposed as a result of the refusal, with Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries communications director Charlie Burr telling TheBlaze in a statement over the weekend that the denial of service was, indeed, what led to the $135,000 sum.

“The damages are outlined in the order and directly relate to the couple’s suffering as a result of the denial of service and unlawful discrimination,” Burr said. “No damages were awarded as a result of any media coverage.”

So, where did the claim that the bakers were fined over the sharing of the couple’s address on Facebook address originate? You have to understand the nuances of the case to know.

The address issue was briefly mentioned during the case, with Aaron Klein telling TheBlaze on Sunday that he did post a copy of the official complaint waged against Sweetcakes by Melissa on his Facebook page in February 2013 — an act that Rachel Cryer-Bowman and Laurel Bowman-Cryer reportedly pushed back against.

At the time, Klein said that he didn’t realize that the complaint — which was filed by the couple — included the women’s address.

[Impala64ssa]

Apparently, some leftist and LGBT-friendly blogs are touting this as some "rest of the story" (ala the late great Paul Harvey) scoop. But according to one of these blogs, those bottom feeding opportunistic lesbians who initially filed the complaint through a mobile app, failed to acknowledge a "terms of use" clause that specifically stated some of there info, including their address would become public info if they submitted this complaint in such a matter. Be that as it may, this angle does not pass the smell test. Even the left-leaning Huff Post did not mention this.

[Bon mots]

[SaveFerris]

And their pic is out there...for anyone interested...

[napscoordinator]

Ok they are beautiful.....now how about a normal one without all the Glamour Shots that were paid for.......I want a true picture from a regular camera on a day they don’t get all made up. I bet the difference would be extraordinary.

[Myrddin]

There were multiple opportunities to redact the personally identifiable information. The server that collected the information could have redacted it for further publication. The application that sent the complaint to the defendants could have redacted the information. It was left in the open and the submitter was warned of the possibility from the beginning. If that is the basis of the case, it is time to appeal it to a REAL court. Further, Brad Avakian needs to be prosecuted for judicial misconduct. He has a relationship with a local gay rights group. That makes his participation in the case biased by definition. The fine imposed was excessive and violates the 8th amendment protections of the defendants. Finally, Avakian issued a gag order to the defendants. That is deprivation of rights under color of authority..

[RginTN]

is it a crime to publish an address?? the homonazis did so to the pro-marriage donors in Cali. That tech guy was let go/resigned when homonazis published his info.

[Impala64ssa]

Brad Avakian needs to be prosecuted for judicial misconduct
I wonder if Brad Avakian is related to Bob Avakian? He's some low-level commie troublemaker from way back.

[Impala64ssa]

is it a crime to publish an address?
Also Darren Wilson's address was leaked to the media after he murdered in cold blood shot in self defense the gentle giant who was just starting to turn his life around thug Michael Brown. No one got in trouble for that. OOOH that's different....never mind.

[sten]

2/3s of all lesbians are obese

must be all those cakes

[Calpublican]

Thank you!

[SmokingJoe]

As expected, nasty looking and as vicious as they come. “Emotional distress” huh? More like agent provocateurs, anti-Christian crazies and Gaystapo anti-free speech Stalinist, money for nothing freeloaders.
Every effort must be made to CRUSH this far left gay attempt to destroy religious freedom in this country. The case must be fought all the way to the Supreme Court, by which time we will hopefully have President Ted Cruz in power. These nasty lesbian HOS must not receive even a penny in damages from anybody.

[Gaffer]

At the time, Klein said that he didn’t realize that the complaint — which was filed by the couple — included the women’s address.

The complaint was an official public document subject to public view. The fact it got printed is immaterial in my opinion.

[HotHunt]

They don't look very emotionally distraught and distressed as they claimed in their complaint against the bakery.

Or is this photo of them smiling because they know they have pulled a fast one on the authorities and are coming away with a big, fat windfall for their plot to destroy the Christian bakers?

[fwdude]

Regardless where or how their address was published, they are supreme hypocrites for complaining about any “retribution” they got (which was also lied about and embellished) after the Kleins suffered the most egregious domestic terrorism from Gaystapo bullies after the case was publicized BY THE LESBIANS.

[fwdude]

A hundred dollars says that they look like Chastity Bono without all that airbrushing.

[Boomer One]

ActuallyI think any emotional distress was caused by the publicity given the case because of the excessively harsh penalty. I’ve been looking for information as to whether the fine was paid, if an appeal has been made, and even the appeal process. This whole process made me mad enough to cancel a return trip to Oregon and the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.

[SaraJohnson]

The uglies couldn’t get dates with males. Lesbianism put the ugly (inside and out) into feminism.