Dozens of protesters gather outside Sweet Cakes bakery
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GRESHAM, Ore. – Protesters gathered on Saturday outside a Gresham bakery that’s at the center of a wedding cake controversy.
A baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple is the subject of a state investigation. The story gained national attention since KATU News first reported it earlier this month.
Dozens of people showed up outside Sweet Cakes by Melissa Saturday afternoon to voice their opposition to Aaron Klein’s decision not to make the cake.
“That’s wrong. That’s a crime in Oregon,” said protester Rob Cochran. “I need to let people know if you’re going to do that as a business, there are going to be consequences.”
Inside the bakery, however, business is booming.
"Lots of support. Support coming through the door, support coming from - we get 25 or 30 letters a day," said Klein, who said he's been the subject of hate mail as well. "I think there are actually some photoshopped pictures of me going around that are pretty messed up, but in my opinion that really shows the morality of the people doing this."
Oregon Attorney General's civil enforcement officers are looking into whether Klein broke the law when he denied the couple a cake. The Oregon Equality Act of 2007 prohibits discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The statute includes public accommodations, such as businesses.
“I don’t really care about them as individuals. The fact is, businesses cannot be allowed to discriminate,” said Cochran.
“I thought it was really great that someone would stand up for what they believe and not feel pressured at the time,” said customer Sue Anderson. “I thought it was really good that they have some feelings about life, and they’re living it.”
Aaron Klein told KATU that he’ll close down shop if he has to, but he refuses to make a cake for a gay wedding. He says it’s a religious debate.
"I think [the state labor commissioner] is going to have decide what's more important: The Oregon State Constitution, or the statute that was passed in 2007," Klein said. "They dropped the ball by not putting in any exemption for religious beliefs."
The lesbian couple at the center of the controversy received offers to make them a wedding cake from all over the country. Local baker Laura Widener, who runs the Southeast Portland bakery Pastrygirl, will make their wedding cake.
Celebrity baker Duff Goldman will also make them a second “bride’s cake” in the style of a “groom’s cake.
So to date, the publicity has been a boost to their sales.  Excellent cupcakes, by the way!
Check back in 6 months and see what his attorney bill is. Then ask him, was it worth it?
The further to the Left, the less civil. Â Conservatives say "Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone." Â Liberals say "Do what I do and say or else . . . " and then they get ugly. Â Hopefully someday somebody will realize the person who makes a product which must be installed and serviced at an event has a right to decline to sell the product to any group he wishes to decline. Â Someday this group of "instant demonstrators" will find real jobs and real issues so they will leave the productive class alone. Â
 @Reis Kash I think you mean conservatives say "leave me alone and I'll leave you alone... unless you're trying to do something that offends my Christian sensibilities, then let's throw out that small government/respect for the Constitution bit." :) And sorry to pop your bubble, but no business has the right to refuse service on the basis of discrimination of a protected category.Â
The State of Oregon has not always been this way. Being a 5th generation native, and over 70 years of age I have seen a lot of change in Oregon. I have to say some good change and some bad change. People used to be pretty civil here, but that seems to be changing on a fairly rapid time line. The State is hurting for money, and getting worse. The State now is totally controlled by progressives, so I expect it will get worse. I am too old to leave and love my birth state, but if I were this young man and his wife, I would probably just pack up and go to Texas or some place like that. You can't change a law when one side has all the power, they know that. Why doesn't everyone see that and try for a balanced approach where both sides have a say in how our state makes laws. I hear this talk all the time about compromise, but I don't see any compromise from either political party. What I do see is the Progressives being the best at the "blame game" hands down. That may be how they got into control, along with the help of our schools, unions, and universities. It has to change folks, more balance, more civility. The division has to stop for the sake of all Oregonians. Heck we can't even have a school mascot anymore without someone getting all up in arms. "You are not entitled to your opinion because we control the state so shut up". Is that where we are at?
 @souptonuts Yet at 7:00 pm on OPB tonight we are watching how Portland Oregon was the most racist city north of the Mason-Dixon LIne with segregated housing, sundown towns, and a state constitution that didn't allow Blacks to settle in the state when it was first established.  As someone who claims to be a 5th generation native to the state of Oregon, it's about high time that you and lot of other white Oregonians quit whining about your rights when you know that civil rights has always been a problem in this state. If Oregon wants jobs, it's time to grow up and start treating everyone as equals and quit patronizing businesses and ideals that exclude others resulting in national media attention that doesn't do this state any favors of removing a "cracker" label off of this state. Aaron is a man of God, but the media attention he has brought to himself doesn't make him a good testimony.
@Bubbabear64 To start with you are watching one of the most onesided biased shows on television. I know that Oregon had it's problems, but it was no different that any other place 175-200 years ago. Racism and slavery was part of the norm back then, and was a terrible thing. So why is this state trying to return to division of the people. Why are the people constantly trying to divide and create strife. It is called progressives, and the sooner minorities realize what progressives are doing to them, the better off they will be. I never knew of any racism as I was growing up here. You tell me where it came from?
You must have confused this article with another. I don't remember race being an issue in any news story in relating to Sweet Cakes.
Southern sympathizers???
Taking a course on "sundown towns" will not help you pay your student loans as you move into the workforce. Stay focused on what's going to help you succeed. We have enough apologists.
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@souptonuts As far as PBS being biased it's funny how I can whatch The McLaughlin Group every Saturday (and I do) on OPB and that isn't a lefty news program at all. There's plenty of evidence outside of a public television station that showed racism in this state after World War 2 that didn't happen in neighboring states. Slavery was only the norm in the south. There is a reason why a class is being taught on Sundown Towns in Oregon at OSU. There were over twenty of them throughout the state. Plenty of citizens in this state still feel the same the same way about non-whites. Thats why the Justice Department invesitgate the Portland Police for racial profiling. Last summer a couple of kids were flying a Conferate Flag in the back of a pickup truck in Springfield chasing a 15 year old African American with it (2 of the students in the truck went to South Alban High School home of the rebels). There seems to be evidence that this state is full of southern sympathizers who forget what side of the Mason-Dixon Line they are on. Even though we have left the division for the most part on paper, the racism hasn't gone away because many parents who grew up in that environment still teach their children that it's ok to yell racial slurs in the Walmart parking lot in Lebanon or not serve non-white patrons which some of the small business owners still do this day in Sweet Home. As long as this behavior continues then I don't think it's wise for Aaron to go the extra mile that he has done when many non white employees that work for Intel in Beaverton, don't care for the white people behavior in their community.Â
I should have said 100-154 years ago. By the way how long has OPB and PBS been around, perhaps that might provide part of the answer to the current problems. Their actual history stories are fairly good, save some of the way the stories are told. Anyone that is willing to open their mind and analyze their total content it is clear that they have a progressive agenda, just like Fox news as having a conservative agenda.  Frankly I think they both cause more problems than they are worth, as does the rest of media. I also don't think their should be this constant guilt trip on people that were not here during those times, but that is their rationale on how to prevent it from happening in the future. Wrong thinking, from the wrong perspective. Have a good day, I will continue to try to be truthful and not be part of the division problem, hope you and anyone you can influence will do the same. Do something nice for your neighbor.
Get a life it is a stupid cake......there are more pressing matter going on in life than about a stupid cake.
I may not agree with his approach to the whole thing, but I support his right to render services.....next time he should just say he is to busy for that day...end of story.
A small protest against a businesses 1st amendment rights. Nice. Guess what? There were hundreds more in Salem protesting the infringement of our 2nd amendment rights, and they were much more civil.
 @catzmeow How was this protest any less civil?
@PleaseBeSmart @catzmeow It was less civil in that they were protesting one mans right to not only do commerce, but his values and moral standards. In which the sodomites have lost touch with.    Â
  The "protest" in Salem was in support of upholding the laws of the State and of thier 2nd Amendment. The protest is against further laws limiting the lawful and morally sound individuals of freedom.
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@Jeff Knopf ---sodomites? As in sodom and gommorah? First referred to in the OLD testament. I don't think these ladies are sodomites. they are not permiscuous since they are marrying only each other. Their vow assures themselves and society that they will neither get VD nor spread it to others. And, they will never be fudge packers. That's for sure! I studied the bible and biology too.
 @Jeff Knopf That would be a great argument if businesses had the right to refuse service to homosexuals due to religious morals, but businesses have no such right.Â
The funny thing about this is that this guy named his bakery sweet cakes. Is he closet or what?
 @Michael Michaels In the interest of truth, the name of the bakery is Sweet Cakes By Melissa. He runs the business with his wife, Melissa.
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And before you point out the pink decor (as I've seen done in other's comments/posts), I think that it is reasonable to assume that his wife decided on that. And, even if she didn't, does it matter?
@XoztedMama @Michael Michaels ---matters no more than the gentlemen who smoke pink labled cigars to celebrate the birth of a baby girl OR gentleman who smoke blue labled cigars to celebrate the birth of a baby boy. I only know that the father has to hand out twice as many cigars if his wife has twins.
I for one would like to know the context in which they refused to make the cake. If it was a polite "Thank you but I cannot make this cake for you because of my beliefs" that is one thing. But if it was a "Get out of here you nasty people!", I would think that inappropriate.
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People are jumping on the you cannot discriminate against them because they are gay bandwagon very quickly. What about protecting the rites of the couple that gives them freedom of religion? As a business you do have the right to refuse service.
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Why don't we wait until all of the facts are known? Perhaps that would be too much to ask....
 @Oregonian In the eyes of the law, it doesn't matter if they refused politely or not. All that matters is the reason behind their refusal. That reason violates state law. Individuals have freedom of religion, for the most part. Businesses that are open to the public do not have the same amount of religious freedom.
 @PleaseBeSmart  @Oregonian Ah yes, as Der Adolph says - "Be a good Jerman und do was I say you do.  Der law is der law und you don't here comes der Gestapo!"  It is time for good citizens to stand up to "laws" which deprive them of Constitutional rights (See First 10 Amendments - for a real good first time experience).
Donald Duck doesn't hug you - sue with the help of Holder's Department of Injustice. Â If the baker doesn't want to do your lavender cake and take part in your wedding ceremony, put the baker and his wife in jail and seize his business. Â I'll try to go by the bakery this week and buy something . . . Â
 @Reis Kash I don't recall the Bill of Rights referring to public businesses, so no. Being open to the public is a privilege which comes with restrictions.
I strongly agree with the owner. I would not support these jokers. They are parasites and libtards. I hope the guys business doubles or triples. I have had with the lazy OWS'ers, Marxist and just plain trash getting their way just by protesting.
 @Ah Shucks Marxists and OWSers aren't the only ones who think businesses should follow discrimination laws.
@PleaseBeSmart  Screw the discrimination law. I had enough of the political BS. There is a lot of us that feel this crap has got out of line.  Obama has done more to split this country than anybody else. So you LibTards get a life.
@Ah Shucks ---@Ah Shucks ---all this from an auto-sexual who masturbates to lesbian nudidy sex scenes. Such hypocracy!
 @Ah Shucks Thank you for the name calling bit. I would agree that political correctness has gone overboard, but this isn't about that. As an individual he can discriminate however he wishes. A business doesn't have that right though. Dress codes are allowed... singling out a race/orientation/gender/whatever is not. I'm also curious why you think civil unions but not marriages? It is the religious aspect or the definition that bothers you or what?
@PleaseBeSmart No it's not a problem with homosexuals. It's problem with political correctness. If the guy has a religious belief against gay marriage so be it. If you have to wear a shirt and tie in a restaurant so be it. I Believe in civil unions not gay marriage. Ok I was a little overboard, Sorry about the name calling.
Ya, look what those anti-government groups caused. Tea in the harbor and the right to free speech etc.
 @Somanyfools Lol. It's been going on a lot longer than that.
 @Ah Shucks You need to chill with the name calling. I've been nothing but civil to you so I expect the same in return. For the record, I don't like Obama and agree that he has, indeed, divided the nation more than it already was. As for the discrimination laws, would you be saying the same thing if this was on the basis of race? Or is this simply your distaste for homosexuals?
 @Ah Shucks No it is not Obama that has split the country it is the Republican's and Democrats keeping the hatred alive along with the Christian Groups and the Anti-government groups.....just don't blame one person it has been going on since 2001.
I still strongly disagree with the bakery's (owner's) stance. For one thing, do they screen everybody and hold pre-marriage counseling to make sure that all of the cakes they bake are going to couples whom they approve of and think that the marriage will last? Or did they single this couple out based on one characteristic that they didn't like (aka discrimination)?
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Another point, they were hired to provide a service. Their service (or lack thereof) had no effect on the marriage itself. If they were being asked to officiate the ceremony, or otherwise participate in the ceremony, I could see where their individual beliefs could reasonable prevent them from doing that duty. They, however, were only asked to provide a service. Not unlike the people who sell the flowers, provide the service or chairs or any other numerous items that might be at the wedding. Bottom line, after they make the cake and sell it, they have no right to say how it might or might not be used. They are not doctors handing out medication that could prove fatal. If somebody wanted to buy a cake from them and use it in a pagan ceremony where they dance naked under the moon and eat cake, then it doesn't reflect on the baker's beliefs (just his ability to make a cake that others enjoy).
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Finally, I STRONGLY object to "Christians" (in quotes because I was raised a Christian and I was taught to love others) trying to claim marriage as something of their own. From everything that I've been able to read, the institution of marriage predates Christ... by quite a bit! Marriages have, and are, celebrated in many different cultures. Sometimes the marriages are sacred to a particular deity, other times they are not. There is NOT a single religion out there who can claim ownership of the idea, word, or institution of marriage. It does not belong solely to Christianity, nor to any other religion. Just because a particular belief system doesn't recognize the validity of the commitment, doesn't mean the commitment is invalid. Just as a decent human wouldn't go up to a Jew or an Indian (or anybody else) and tell them that the marriage they had, that was unique to their cultural and spiritual beliefs, wasn't valid; it is just as wrong to try and tell any two individuals that their marriage isn't valid because it doesn't match your ideology.
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*steps off from soap box*
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 @Ah Shucks Please stop telling people to STFU.Â
 @Ah Shucks Umm, why? Because I can form complete sentences with coherent thoughts. You know, I don't mind people disagreeing with my stance. But I prefer that you actually articulate your opinions so that we can begin to understand each other's stance... You know, instead of mindlessly trying to bash me for my own opinions.
 @Ah Shucks Since you insist on name calling and not having a polite discussion, I'm done. I was willing to try and see your side, but you seem unwilling or unable to share it.
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As for my screen name, it is simply a play on "exhausted mama".
@XoztedMama Do you really beleive your a resident of Second Life? Xozt
I hope the publicity propels Sweet Cakes into star-status. The protesters are more repulsive than any religious views they claim to be protesting against.Â
I don't see them outside of any mosks, and they clearly don't support gay lifestyles either.Â
 @flor3nc3 They aren't outside a church. They are outside of a business that has a legal obligation to follow discrimination laws.
This is crazy it is there business and there belief so they should feel bad or guilty about it grow the hell up it's ok in some peoples world but not everyone's.
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No one should to be treated like this just because they do not believe the way these people do!! Â
Time to make a trip to Gresham...for some Sweet Cakes cakes!!!! Â
 @RedHeads4Romney By your logic, should he be able to kick out someone based on race? What about gender? Or even red heads?
 @RedHeads4Romney Supporting businesses that break the law? Tisk, tisk.
 PleaseBeSMart do you pay taxes? Then you also support a business that breaks the law.@PleaseBeSmart  @RedHeads4RomneyÂ
 @Phil I don't recall voluntarily paying taxes.