Sweet Cakes by Melissa, the Oregon
bakery found guilty of discriminating against a lesbian couple, has
shuttered.
Owners Aaron and Melissa Klein were
found guilty of unlawfully discriminating against the couple when
they refused to make a cake for the women's commitment ceremony.
The Kleins announced their closure in a
Facebook post which reads, “We have closed Sweet Cakes. We
appreciate everyone's continued prayer and support!”
After dragging their feet for nearly
six month, the couple last year paid $135,000 in state-ordered
damages plus accrued interest.
Aaron Klein declined to make the cake
for the women on January 17, 2013. Klein said he does not hate gays
but that making a cake for a same-sex wedding would violate his
faith. (At the time, Oregon had the nation's most robust domestic
partnership law. Following a federal judge's ruling in May, 2014,
Oregon became the 18th state to allow gay and lesbian
couples to marry.)
In refusing to pay the debt, the Kleins
had claimed financial hardship. But critics pointed out that
supporters of the couple had raised at least $515,000 in 3
crowdfunding accounts to help them with expenses.
The couple's refusal to bake the women
a cake turned them into Christian celebrities.