'Sweetcakes' owner defiant in face of $135,000 fine

Washington Examiner ^ | 7-3-2015 | Barbara Boland

[sheikdetailfeather]

After getting hit with a financially-crushing $135,000 fine Thursday for their decision to not bake a cake for a lesbian wedding, the owner of the Oregon "Sweetcakes by Melissa" bakery has a dire warning for Americans.

"For years, we've heard same-sex marriage will not affect anybody," Aaron Klein said in an interview with The Blaze. "I'm here firsthand to tell everyone in America that it has already impacted people."

Aaron and his wife Melissa are required to immediately write a $135,000 check to the lesbian couple they refused to bake a wedding cake for, Rachel Cryer-Bowman and Laurel Bowman-Cryer, to compensate them for emotional damages.

Aaron Klein says that Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian's order requires the couple to use "personal property" rather than only business assets to pay the vast sum and that it "has the potential to financially ruin" the family of five. Avakian "knew that full well going into this," said Klein.

[Salvation]

If you would like more information about what's happening in Oregon, please FReepmail me.

I lost my Oregon list when my computer crashed last year, so please send me your name by FReepmail if you want to be on this list

[Delta 21]

Yeah, someone might get hurt trying to keep me from leaving that place.

[Salvation]

Any way that we could all order something from Sweet Cakes?

Or how about a “help” fund for them?

[farming pharmer]

https://www.continuetogive.com/helpsweetcakesbymelissa

90% funded (goal=$150,000). Every freedom loving citizen should donate a few dollars to this family and show that communist shit-smear Brad Avakian this family has wide support.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

I didn’t say THEY were ignorant. They said in the video they didn’t know the law .... that is called “ignorance of the law”. Otherwise I agree with you.

[silverleaf]

wth is some labor commissioner to tell them HOW they have to pay a debt???

unbelieveable

[silverleaf]

Seems to me they should have a yard sale, even an online yard sale

Sell their children’s toys and books and such to pay off the lesbians

I would bet with proper publicity they could make $135,000

[ilovesarah2012]

Shows his financial problems and basically what a jerk he is.

[Moltke]

You are 100% correct, but it seems some commenters refuse to recognize the fact that it is (unfortunately) a law in the state of Oregon, however stupid the law may be, and if they acted against the law they broke it. That is step one.

Step two is doing something against that stupid law.

[dsm69]

Thanks for sharing a picture of the neo-Marxist tyrant.

I think he did this to try and set a precedent. I doubt this will stand in court if the couple finds competent lawyers. This Marxist clearly exceeded his statutory authority. He cannot impose gag orders or have them arrested. He also cannot issue punitive fines or dictate how they will be paid. Only a court of law can impose these. He can only issue standard civil fines and suspend or revoke a business license.

Not only is their 8th amendment rights being violated by this tyrant, but also their 1st amendment rights to Freedom of religion and free speech. All this couple needs is competent legal representation and a fair, constitution respecting judge. They would also be better pursuing this as a civil rights case in Federal, not state court.

[DoodleDawg]

I have no problem with any merchant voluntarily posting such notice. A law requiring it is a bridge too far, and one more tyranny of the thin-skinned.

I agree that the chances of it being allowed is zilch. Which is a shame because had the bakery been allowed to post such a sign then all this could have been avoided.

[DoodleDawg]

Short answer - NO!

Leaving aside for a moment that the law would never allow it, why not?

[DoodleDawg]

Shows his financial problems and basically what a jerk he is.

Perhaps he's hoping to capitalize on his notoriety in this matter to recharge his political career?

[Mr Radical]

This whole sorry saga was a set-up to target this couple and their business and, of course, all real Christians and anyone else who dares oppose the march of homo-ism. A similar or copy-cat stunt is now being played out in Northern Ireland:
BBC News - 'Gay cake' row: Judge rules against Ashers bakery

[ilovesarah2012]

I think so or he really loves lesbians.

[EBH]

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian's order requires the couple to use "personal property" rather than only business assets to pay the vast sum

If they are incorporated ...isn't that "order" illegal?

[sheikdetailfeather]

I definitely would think so as this had to do with a business.

[sheikdetailfeather]

There is a link at post 104 in which you can donate.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Mr. Avakian should immediately be sued, personally, for deliberate infringement of the owner’s Constitutional right to free speech.

A check for $135,000, paid from Mr. Avakian’s personal assets, should be enough to settle the whole thing.