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Bakers fined $135K for refusing to make cake

Posted: Jul 8, 2015

Preliminary ruling has been finalized. This decision is wrong.

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Further pushing the political agenda, as well as ignoring - the first amendment, but as

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long as they vote Democrat it's okey- dokey

Part of the left's "perpectual victim olympics" - xxx

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xxx

The next logical step after businesses is if an individual - refuses to attend a "gay marriage"

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then they will drag you into court.

This is how it works, like yeast, It grows.

When I was a teenager and abortion became legal, they kept changing the definition of when you could have one, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, now look, 9 months.

That "reasoning" is warped beyond all recognition. - What a creepy world some people live in.

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And yet, you were never forced to have an abortion - were you?

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xx

I'd posit if the situation were reversed, they would have been - no cake. Liberals push "free expression"

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and "free speech" but only if you say what they want to hear.

Judicial activism (rulings being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law) is another example of the breakdown of government and personal boundaries. It’s like a child just reaching out and taking whatever it wants.

But that's exactly the point: Conservatives only - want freedom if its THEIR kind of freedom.

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That's the very essence of HYPOCRISY.

In addition to this, I'm reading a push to take down Jefferson Memorial - and rename Washington, every day

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it something else.

All Christians should leave Oregon if they can. - NM

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NM

Problem is a lot of so-called Christian organizations have been - co-opted by the left. Look at

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the Catholic Church's environmental expert" (I should say the Pope), an Occupy Wall Street radical.

Becoming an object of its own worship has always been - the nature of society. xx

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xx

By co-opt you mean education and real - christian acts-yes

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instead of the false, controlling, persecutory, "The Bible tells me so," which apparently it tells them anything they feel like to bolster their maniacal control over lives.

Under Oregon law - sm

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Under Oregon law, businesses cannot discriminate or refuse service based on sexual orientation, just as they cannot discriminate based on race, religion, sex or age. It has nothing to do with YOUR religious freedom. It has to do with a society agreeing to get along. If you pay for a business license, pay taxes on the business and put up a health inspection certificate on the wall you are agreeing to do business by the government's rules, not your religion's. At least everyone knows which rules to follow, instead of trying to figure out where the next "religious" objection will come from. Separation of church and state is just that - separate. Mark 12:17 - "Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him." Why would a Christian argue with that?

Oh man this makes me so sick - ...

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First of all, the bakers never ever refused to serve their wares to anyone. Black, blue, purple, he, she, it. It was only when the gay couple wanted the Christian couple to PARTICIPATE in their gay wedding by baking them a wedding cake that it became an issue. There has to be a line drawn between the rights of gays and the rights of Christians. The bakers are on GOD's side, the gay couple is NOT! Emotional damage? How much emotional damage do you think the Christian couple is going through? MORE!

Making a cake is not participation. It's baking a cake - for money (NM

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...

The 6 Muslim bakeries that refused didn't make news, - this is about attacking Christians

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and the Bible and pushing a political agenda. We have turned the corner in history.

No, it's about stamping out bigotry disguised - as "christianity". Big difference.

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nmsg

What you call bigotry is religious objection based on - what one believes is immoral,

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the person's soul is not being judged, merely objecting to participate in the behavior.

You still don't get it. One can object to something, - but they cant force others to do likewise.

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If a person's life is so ruled by their religious beliefs that they can't function out in the real world because of them, they need to either dump their religion or grow a thicker skin.

Either way, they need to get a life.

I admire people who live their life according to - principles. We need more of that today. xx

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xx

No matter what those principles are--just stick - to them?

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xx

So you don't think people should be able to practice - their beliefs in their own business?

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All I can say is wow. This country is going downhill fast.

God will not be mocked. Pharaoh didn't really see - God in the plaques, he

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thought it was some trick.

Of course now it would be blamed on Republicans causing the flood, republican lightening, frogs, locusts, etc.

He is being mocked today, but how and when he will - respond is anybody's guess. xx

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xx

I doubt he will respond, because he's not real. - n

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While I'm all for a buisness owner having the right to - see msg. - LML

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run the business as he/she chooses, it's also a place of business that is providing a service for a fee to the public. As a public business, that business exists to serve the public - all of the public, instead of picking and choosing customers. Just seems too hypocritical to me.

Was that the only bakery in town? - sm

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"Forcing others," eh?

Sounds like they were a target, like that pizza place - in Indiana. xx

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xx

Were the Muslim bakeries in a state that - has a law against discrimination?

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I refuse to chase that rabbit, but you are welcome to provide that info if you like.

I chased - the rabbit

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At least one of the Muslim bakeries was in Dearborn, Michigan. And your question was right on the mark - Michigan has no such laws preventing discrimination against gays in this manner, nor does the city of Dearborn.

Further, this didn't make the news because it wasn't really newsworthy. This was a 'hidden camera expose' by alleged comedian Steven Crowder, a former Fox News (cough) contributor, and political conservative. There were never any lawsuits filed, nor formal complaints made. This was just a piece of political theater by a Christian conservative trying to score cheap points.

Having watched a bit of Steven Crowder's material, I have to say, he's no Jon Stewart.

Remeber "Jay Walking" by Jay Leno? The average American - would be asked simple questions

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and most didn't know basic stuff, like the Bill of Rights and things we were taught in elementary school. They couldn't even name the 5 rights listed in the first amendment.

America is truly bewitched. The public school system is worthless.

America is "bewitched"? As in some kind of - "spell" has been cast upon it?

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Oh, brother. Now I've heard everything.

It means people are free to WORSHIP in their - respective religions; it does NOT mean -

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they are free to DISCRIMINATE against other people whose beliefs, or lack thereof, are different from theirs.

If someone is "emotionally damaged" because someone else does something that their personal religion is against, they've got bigger problems than just an aversion to putting rainbow frosting on a cake.

By the same token, if someone has symptoms including - wannie

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“acute loss of confidence,“doubt,” “excessive sleep,” “felt mentally raped, dirty and shameful,” “high blood pressure,” “impaired digestion,” “loss of appetite,” “migraine headaches,” “pale and sick at home after work,” “resumption of smoking habit,” “shock,” “stunned,” “surprise,” “uncertainty,” “weight gain” and “worry” because one bakery wouldn't do their cake, then they've got bigger problems, too. That's a little much doncha' think?

The Bakery owner published name, address, and phone number on his Facebook page. - sm

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A lot of the facts in this case are being glossed over by the right-wing media propaganda machine for obvious reasons. For instance, the owner of the bakery, Aaron Klein, took a picture of the first page of the couple's complaint that included one of the couple's names, address, and phone number and published it on his Facebook page with the post for the whole world to see: "This is what happens when you tell gay people you won't do their 'wedding' cake."

After their personal information including phone number was published to his Facebook page, the death threats and hateful phone calls from "Christians," anti-gay activists, and homophobes started pouring in against the couple.

The owner of the bakery published their personal information to the whole world on Facebook and admitted refusing to serve a cake at their wedding reception because they were "gay people." Now pretend like that happened to you because someone disagreed with your Christian or "whatever" lifestyle and posted your name, home address, and phone number on a popular social media website to the public.

"That's a little much doncha' think?"

Yes, it certainly is, and he was more than wrong - wannie

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for doing so, but the list of "symptoms" they experienced was a bit much. "Resumption of smoking habit," "weight gain," "excessive sleep," pale and sick at home after work." Goodness, I have some of those same "symptoms." I wonder who I could sue because of my "symptoms?" I think as a general rule, the whole world has gotten "sue" happy. I'm sorry they were upset, hurt and embarrased on a social media site (which should never have occurred). However, that would never have happened had they just taken their business elsewhere. I think the best thing we can do is to agree to disagree on this subject. I'm not likely to change your mind and I know you can't change mine.

question for me, did the bakery receive death - threats from the LGBT community?

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Rubbish - justright

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or I'm reading this wrong or don't know the whole story, but baking a cake is not participating. They are getting paid to bake a cake, not participate in a wedding. They are in the business of baking cakes. The God I know doesn't discriminate. He probably would have baked the cake and sat and ate it with them.

Note to America. You can't object to anything on - religous grounds now (only Christians)

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or you'll be found guilty to adhering to your faith. A reasonable person would have just gone to another bakery.

Catholics were treated this way in the 1920s. I'm waiting for the day some government official tells me not to speak about the Lord in a place of business.

I remember when a doctor came under scrutiny when he - objected to abortion. I see many

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of the same excuses used in this case.

I admire people who stand up for their beliefs, even if it ruins them.

But.... we ARE standing up for our beliefs. We - believe in individual freedom without

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discrimination or harassment by those who might not feel the same way. If you don't believe in something, then don't do it, yourself. But don't tell other people what they can or cannot do.

Most rational people would rather not hear - people rant on about their "lord"

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in public. Keep it in church, where it belongs.

or under your pillow, or in the closet... - sounding familiar?

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karma is rough.

Gays have had to deal with the attitudes of it will rub off on other people, people will catch it, it is just immoral for eternity.

Now, perhaps people are beginning to vocalize their feelings about religion in the same vein. Doesn't feel so good does it?

Live and let live and quit trying to control everyone else. If you open a business in public, then do business in public. Leave your personal convictions behind. Otherwise, do your mom and pop, "make cakes" for friends and family, but don't put out your shingle and think it is okay to discriminate against some people.

Why on earth would you speak about the Lord - in a place of business anyway?

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In a way, companies like Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A must be like that, I would imagine.

Big religious pep rallies in the guise of team building or staff meetings, with praying and holding hands.

Bleah. Yuck. If that is not excluding those from employment who do not have the same beliefs as you, what is?

I hate hearing people talk about the Lord because I automatically feel excluded. I don't get the Lord. As an atheist, I find it not so much offensive as boring, as if someone was discussing a sport I have no interest in or knowledge about.

I wish people would just keep their Lord to themselves and while I would not think there should be any law about it, it is just like why would you work in a Muslim bakery or whatever if you weren't Muslim, or any sort of shop that caters specifically for one religious group if you were not that?

However, unfortunately, places like Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A have been made into what seems like exclusive Christian companies, and they are mainstream businesses!

To me that is un-American because whether you like it or not, maybe Christianity is in the majority but it is not required nor should we be forced to hear about it all the time as employees, so I guess you pretty much have to buy into all that to be an employee of these places.

How discriminatory is that?

A business is not a person - Okay?

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It has neither rights of free speech nor of religion. It simply has to follow the law where it operates. This one broke the law. Someone reported it. The state fined them for breaking the law. It's not complicated.

Examples of symptoms included - sm

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“acute loss of confidence,” “doubt,” “excessive sleep,” “felt mentally raped, dirty and shameful,” “high blood pressure,” “impaired digestion,” “loss of appetite,” “migraine headaches,” “pale and sick at home after work,” “resumption of smoking habit,” “shock” “stunned,” “surprise,” “uncertainty,” “weight gain” and “worry.”

How did they show that they actually suffered from these? They got money because they were 'surprised' 'loss of appetite yet gained weight'? Its total b******ks! They milked the system for what they could get! And ruined someone livelihood!

"Impeding the free EXERCISE of religion" is in the - first amendment. The

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exercise of the baker's religion is protected (or used to be before political activism trumped the Constitution).

That's exercise of religion not business, unless - their business is a bakery church

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they might get somewhere with that if they baked little crosses (or idolatry of choice) and prayed constantly and held religious ceremonies and otherwise declared themselves a not for profit church entity.

Stop using excuses about freedom of religion and 1st amendment rights - !!

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You are picking who to discriminate against..do you ask every customer if they are gay, an adulterer, liar, cheater, Muslim, atheist etc? The bible says treat your neighbor as you want to be treated! Love each other as God loves you!!! You are using religion to choose your customers that is wrong!!

Would you say that to a Muslim? - NM

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xx

Of course! The muslim religion is just as - restrictive & controlling as christianity.

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x

Religious beliefs are just a veil to hide behind - for messed-up people who try to

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think they are somehow entitled to control all other people according to their own personal likes and dislikes.

These same people would have a coronary if someone refused to bake them a cake or sell them a set of luggage based on their religious affiliations. Or if they didn't happen to like heterosexuals. Or Eastern Europeans. Or Native Americans.

It doesn't just work one way, religious people, it works BOTH ways. Live and let live. Practice what you believe within reason, but don't go trying to restrict the lives and happiness of other people in order to accommodate your narrow-mindedness.

If the owner of the cake shop refused to make a pornographic cake - ?

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will they be charged for refusing to do that also? What’s the difference? They refused to make the cake on their beliefs and being asked to do something they were totally uncomfortable with. Where is the freedom in that? The courts were out of order here. Anyone who is put in an uncomfortable position should be allowed to refuse service. These are good people and did not deserve what the courts did to them. Shame on those who did this to these people. I’m sure most see you are only out to fill your pockets and try to destroy good people. Shame, shame, shame!!!!! When a Christian is persecuted, then they know they are doing the right thing. Be strong!

You really want to know the difference? - sm

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They refused to make a cake based on the sexual orientation of the customers, and in Oregon those customers are a protected class by law.

The bakery is licensed by Oregon to serve the public, including making wedding cakes, and companies that serve the public in Oregon are not allowed to tell members of the public that they won't make them a cake if they're a member of the protected classes.

"We don't make pornographic cakes at this bakery for anyone" would be a perfectly valid response. In contrast, "We make wedding cakes at this bakery for heterosexuals but not for homosexuals" would be a violation of the Oregon law. "We don't make wedding cakes at this bakery for fat people" would probably be okay since overweight people are not a protected class under Oregon law.

What that bakery needs to do is either serve everyone in the protected class under Oregon law or get out of the business of serving the public in Oregon or lobby to have the law changed. What that bakery actually has done is openly state that they will continue to provide wedding cakes for heterosexuals but not homosexuals. That has not helped their case, as it is clearly against Oregon law.

On the flipside of this case, a Christian in Oregon sued her employer for violating her religious rights and won damages of around $350,000 in a ruling issued in 2012. The employer argued to Oregon that he had a right to hire and fire based on his religious beliefs. Would it have been better if the owner of the business was allowed to make decisions based on his religious beliefs and discriminate against the Christian? Oregon disagreed in that case also and awarded damages to the Christian. I posted that Oregon case in another link under this OP.

If you don't know the difference between those - two things, I feel really sorry for you.

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x

Why don't Christians ever seem to follow their Christ? - spiritually weak behavior

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If you believe in a Divine Plan, why don't you welcome opportunities like the bakers had to witness to others, as Jesus commanded? Instead of welcoming them, stating that while they do not share the views of the couple they would make a fine cake for them, because they are living examples of God's love. But they act like Jesus wants them to slam their doors and hole up among their like-minded believers. They were fast to judge, and the Bible is pretty clear on that one, too.

There is nothing in the Bible to support such spiritually weak behavior.

And for those who believe in all the recent hyperbole from the right that somehow man-made laws are to be conveniently discarded when they fail to suit them, a word from the Bible:

1 Peter 2:13-17
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Because most of them are hypocrites, that's why. - And you just called them out on it! ;)

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My exposure the excuse of "Sinful nature" - is the excuse used

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the constant struggle to follow in the footsteps of their God, the Devil constantly pulling in the "wrong" direction, but it's okay because God forgives and all will be well....just so long as you don't give up faith/belief.

Oregon was quite right to award damages under the law. - sm

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Oregon Revised Statute 659A.403, prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or age if the individual is 18 years of age or older. This is very clear law that has been in place in Oregon for quite awhile now.

The actual baking of the wedding cake is NOT why these business owners found themselves facing a complaint with the State of Oregon for regulatory violations; that happened when they refused service to members of the public based solely on their sexual orientation, which is clearly stated in Oregon law as a protected class. Had they refused to bake a cake for a mixed race couple who chose to file a complaint, they most likely would have been ordered to pay damages based on discrimination based on race. This would naturally apply to any protected class under Oregon law.

The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) ruled that the owners of the bakery must pay "damages" totaling $135,000 to the complainants, $60,000 in damages to one complainant and $75,000 in damages to the other complainant for emotional suffering stemming directly from unlawful discrimination. The amounts are damages related to the harm suffered; they are not fines or civil penalties which are punitive in nature.

The Final Order notes that these "damages" are consistent with previous orders. In 2012, the agency awarded a Christian employee damages in the amount of $347,654 in a case filed by a Christian against a Bend, Oregon, dentist for physical, mental and emotional suffering due to religious discrimination and harassment (see link for press release).

"In investigating and prosecuting this case, Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) found that Engel badgered the dental hygienist, now working in East Texas, for several days to convince her to attend the required training with her co-workers, repeatedly brushing aside concerns that Scientology conflicted with her Christian religious beliefs and ignoring a specific
accommodation request for an alternative, non-religious training opportunity."

The law in Oregon is quite clear. The State of Oregon basically allows no discrimination of anyone. Period.

This ruling is wrong - .

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The bakers did not discriminate against the couple because of their sexual orientation. They refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. They made a decision to not conduct business in relation to an event that directly conflicts with their beliefs. I'm sure they would have refused to bake the cake if it had been the straight mother of one of the couple ordering it. I'm also sure the bakers would have sold a few donuts to the same-sex couple had they stopped by for a snack.

This is why the ruling is wrong. Period.

Yes, first amendment protected speech. Actions are protected - speech, especially religious.

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We live in a post-Constitution America.

No, the ruling was RIGHT. - The law is right: Bigotry is wrong.

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See, if you call religious objection "bigotry" then - you can push your agenda. NM

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NM

And if you call bigotry "religious objection", - then youre pushing YOUR agenda.

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See how that works? Do you understand that either way, it's wrong?

The whole thing with these religious bakery nuts is that their own personal distaste for another person's lifestyle should have been kept to themselves. They're in business, after all. In business you buy, you sell, but you do not discriminate. It's against the law in America to discriminate. They should either have thought "tsk-tsk" to themselves and just baked the stupid cake, or else they should seriously consider being an employee of someone else, and not running a business. What they did was not very businesslike, was it?

They thought they could get away with their passive-aggressive bullying of those gay customers because they didn't thing they would stand up to them and call them out on it. In order for bullying and aggression by other oppressive groups in the US, people have to do just what the gay couple did: Stand up to it and speak out.

The fact that the bakery went out of business was their own choice. They could have stayed in business if they could have just followed the laws of business. But they were too stupid and self-centered to do that, so.... too bad, so sad, and good riddance.

You can say it in caps, but the ruling is still wrong - .

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I wholeheartedly agree that bigotry is wrong. It was indeed stubbornly intolerant of that same sex couple to hurt those bakers because they chose not to contribute to an event that conflicts with their beliefs. It's terrible when someone seeks to foist their values and beliefs on another. Shame on that same-sex couple.

So discrimination against certain groups of - people by christians is "right"?

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What do you think gives them this kind of power over others?

What Christian discriminated against any group? - .

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These Christian bakers chose not to conduct business in relation to an event that conflicted with their beliefs. I bet that same-sex couple patronized that bakery many times before for pastries and were happily served. Who picks a bakery for a wedding when they've never tasted the wares? Nobody. That proves that the bakers did not discriminate against a person or a group. They were opting out of an event.

It'll be interesting to see what a court says about this particular situation.

Christian bakers discriminated against a gay - couple when they refused to - sm

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bake them a wedding cake based on their sexual orientation. That's against the law. Simple as that. It's not rocket science.

Yes, it is very simple. - .

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People are afforded the right to freely exercise their religion, and that cannot be prohibited by law. It follows then that a person cannot be compelled by law to act in opposition to their beliefs. If a person cannot be compelled by law to act in opposition to their beliefs, imposing a fine for doing so is unconstitutional.

Let's see what the courts say. Stay tuned.

By your reasoning, people are free to murder, "and that cannot be prohibited by law." - sm

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But, but, but, officer: Psalm 137:9.

"Freely exercising religion" does not give people - free rein to stomp on other people.

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And that's discrimination. Pure and simple. - .

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Buying a cake does not foist beliefs on anyone - cute twisting of idea though

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It is a law that is long in coming for many states and very progressive for Oregon. Regardless, it is the law.

Incorrect. - sm

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This poster said: "The bakers did not discriminate against the couple because of their sexual orientation."

Actually, that is incorrect. The complainants sent a letter to the DOJ which stated:

"In November of 2011 my fiancé and I purchased a wedding cake from this establishment for her mother's wedding. We spent 250. When we decided to get married ourselves chose to go back and purchase a second cake. Today, January 17, 2013, we went for our cake tasting. When asked for a grooms name my soon to be mother in law informed them of my name. The owner then proceeded to say we were abominations unto the lord and refused to make another cake for us despite having already paid 250 once and having done business in the past. We were then informed that our money was not equal, my fiancé reduced to tears. This is absolutely unacceptable."

Later when Oregon sent the consumer complaint to the bakery owners, the Kleins, with a cover letter attempting to encourage a compromise or reconciliation, the bakery owner, Aaron Klein, actually went on Facebook and posted the discrimination complaint without taking the precaution of removing the couple's name and address from the document. He posted their names and address and a copy of the complaint to Facebook with the statement, quoting the bakery owner:

"This is what happens when you tell gay people you won't do their 'wedding cake.'"

After their names and address were published, they began receiving death threats and hateful calls and messages from "Christians" saying all kinds of hateful things.

Offering to sell them a plain wedding cake with no lettering or giving them a name of a bakery who would provide the service would have been a much wiser business decision, but I'd say the fact that the bakery chose to publish the same-sex couple's names on Facebook complete with address and disparaging them as "gay people" on social media available to the whole world is actually most likely where the bakery lost this case.

Saying someone is gay - is disparaging?

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X

If you refuse to sell a wedding cake because your religion says gay people are an abomination, - sm

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And then you post on social media for all the world to see: "This is what happens when you tell gay people you won't do their 'wedding cake,'" and post their names and address on Facebook, what would you exactly call that kind of post by a business owner who refused to serve you based on his belief that your lifestyle was unworthy? After that was posted by the bakery on Facebook, disparaging response posts and death threats quickly followed toward the couple at the address the bakery published online.

How does this sound in response: "This is what happens when you tell Christian people you're marrying within the same gender." Disparaging toward Christians because of their beliefs maybe?

It's against the bakers' religion to participate in a gay wedding? Well, who actually has cake during a wedding ceremony? The cake is prepared for a wedding reception that has nothing to do with the actual act of marriage. The cake is merely served at a party after the wedding ceremony takes place. How is providing a cake for a party after a wedding ceremony actually participating in the ceremony itself? I personally don't happen to think that it is participating in any ceremony; I think it's a party after the danged wedding.

I wonder if these Christian bakers would refuse to provide a cake to Bristol Palin for a baby shower for her latest baby out of wedlock? Sex outside of marriage is against Christianity, right?

Bakery: We don't condone babies out of wedlock, Ms. Palin. Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice. No, we're not doing the cake. We don't do cakes for bastard children or unwed mothers.

Bristol: But I already conceived him; can't you just do me a cake for his party?

Bakery: Sorry, but he's a bastard child in the eyes of our church, and you're a ____ twice over now. It's against our religious beliefs; you know that. Last week we refused to do a cake for a guy wearing polyester; you know how it is, I mean, Leviticus 19:19.

Bristol: Haters gonna hate!

I think most uber-religious people are an abomination. - If there really is a God, he must be squirming.

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Are we becoming a fascist state? - sm

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In a free society a business person has the right to decide who they will serve. If persons object they have the right to go to another business or to start a competing business. Instead persons go to a lawyer or to the government to enforce legal tyranny. A cake is not a life or death issue and so the government has no business getting involved in this realm. Are we becoming a fascist state?

Who someone choose to love is not the same as - "No shirt, no shoes, no service."

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Welcome to the homofascist state. Pride comes before the falll--God! - NM

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Amen. - nm

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Fear comes before the brainwashing - nm

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xx

Yes, we are. We have come full 180 degrees from the - founding. Just read the

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comments. People don't even understand the first amendment.

Not surprising. Most churchy-types seem to - want to go back to the Puritan days.

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For the life of me - sm

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I am unable to understand, why they simply denied to serve the gay couple? they would have made some other polite excuse .. like we are fully booked or we are closed on that particular day etc.

That would be more Christian!

No, it is Christian to speak the truth in love. - nm

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x

Where's the "love" in denying service to a - gay couple? Or in any discrimination?

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And how much did the bakery make on - gofundme or whatever?

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I can't be bothered to look it up but I'll bet they more than made up for the fine. There are so many willing to donate to the right wing oppressed.

They love to donate to people who have been discriminated against because they are discriminating against others and forcing their views down everyone else' throats, like racists, homophobes, etc.

Why can't we live in the old America where we could force all these views down people's throats and they would have to take it?

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Good for Oregon - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Not only do they not allow discrimination in public places of business (including sexual orientation discrimination) AND you are not allowed to post a sign stating you will do so.

IMO, the article regarding cease and desist is to do with defamation and unnecessary aggravation in regard to an otherwise clear violation of law that the bakers wish to dispute in a public venue by personal attack and humiliation. If they wish to change the law they should go through a more general venue. (good luck with that given the recent marriage equality law)

§ 659A.403¹

Discrimination in place of public accommodation prohibited

(1)
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, all persons within the jurisdiction of this state are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any place of public accommodation, without any distinction, discrimination or restriction on account of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or age if the individual is 18 years of age or older.

659A.409¹

Notice that discrimination will be made in place of public accommodation prohibited
• age exceptions

Except as provided by laws governing the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors and the frequenting by minors of places of public accommodation where alcoholic beverages are served, and except for special rates or services offered to persons 50 years of age or older, it is an unlawful practice for any person acting on behalf of any place of public accommodation as defined in ORS 659A.400 (Place of public accommodation defined) to publish, circulate, issue or display, or cause to be published, circulated, issued or displayed, any communication, notice, advertisement or sign of any kind to the effect that any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, services or privileges of the place of public accommodation will be refused, withheld from or denied to, or that any discrimination will be made against, any person on account of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or age if the individual is 18 years of age or older. [Formerly 659.037; 2003 c.521 §3; 2005 c.131 §2; 2007 c.100 §7]

1 Legislative Counsel Committee, CHAPTER 659A—Unlawful Discrimination in Em

Partially correct - ruling

[ In Reply To ..]
The question all the people who are angry about this should be asking themselves is "How would I feel if this if it wasn't a gay couple who were denied, but a mixed race couple? Or a mixed-religion couple?"

An *honest* answer to that question would be quite telling, I suspect.

In any case, as a matter of the law, the portion of this ruling awarding financial damages to the plaintiffs was completely correct. Oregon's law is quite clear on matters of discrimination. Break the law, accept the consequences.

I do have serious misgivings about the 'gag order' portion of the ruling however. I won't pretend to understand the legal reasoning behind it, but it strikes me as a highly suspect decision, bordering on prior restraint.

The bakers should not be allowed to break the law with impunity, but they absolutely should be able to discuss if they think the law is wrong.

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