Melissa and Aaron Klein, the Christian bakers who faced $135,000 in penalties that were later dropped for refusing to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, are working on relaunching a new business.
Following the shutdown of their Oregon-based Sweet Cakes, the Kleins are raising funds to start a new business while their case is potentially headed toward the Supreme Court.
“Over the last several years we have been strong as a family and strong as part of our church body. With life’s stresses comes a void that can sometimes be overwhelming. That void for me was my loss of love for baking and the joy that came with that. I’m here to say it never went away but it was a struggle to fall in love with it again,” Melissa wrote in her fundraising description.
“Almost 2yrs ago we moved to Montana. I had said I was never going to open a bakery again, but God has seemed to change my heart with this. It’s been 10 years since having my shop in Oregon and I greatly miss it along with all my sweet customers, she added.
The Kleins are seeking $50,000 to fund the downpayment of a new location in Montana. More than $17,000 has already been donated toward the goal.
“Showing resilience and faith that God is the rock we stand on and His love will conquer all fears,” Melissa wrote in thanking supporters for their help.
The Kleins faced a government mandate from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) over refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding in 2013, claiming doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
In January, the BOLI reversed a previous attempt to stop the fine.
“We adhere to our prior decision upholding BOLI’s determinations that Aaron unlawfully discriminated against the Bowman-Cryers based on sexual orientation,” <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-bakers-punished-for-not-baking-gay-wedding-cake-to-relaunch-business.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> Circuit Judge Erin Lagesen, the author of the panel opinion. “We reach a different conclusion with respect to our prior affirmance of BOLI’s noneconomic damages award,” ruled Lagesen.
Earlier this year, however, an Oregon Court of Appeals upheld its original finding and threw out the fine over a claim of subtle bias against the religious beliefs of the Kleins.
“The court was right five years ago and is still right today,” attorney Jennifer Pizer, who represented the lesbian couple, said in a <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.opb.org/article/2022/01/26/oregon-appeals-court-sweet-cakes-bakery-same-sex-discrimination-ruling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “The Kleins’ faith does not give them a pass to ignore Oregon’s Public Accommodation Law.”
“The court adhered to the position that the Oregon courts had previously taken that nondiscrimination laws can be taken to protect same sex couples, regardless of religious beliefs,” Jim Oleske, a law professor at Lewis &amp; Clark, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://twitter.com/JimOleske/status/1486376826754592776" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Twitter. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
7/ The Court then concludes that the hostility potentially evidenced by the prosecutor&#39;s statement may have influenced the agency&#39;s decision to award damages: <a href="https://t.co/vNtlUtnPMB">pic.twitter.com/vNtlUtnPMB</a>
&mdash; Jim Oleske (@JimOleske) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimOleske/status/1486388815472173057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
Oleske noted that the court’s conclusion in the ruling emphasized “that the hostility potentially evidenced by the prosecutor’s statement may have influenced the agency’s decision to award damages.”

<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Christian Bakers Who Faced $135K In Penalties For Refusing To Make Wedding Cake For Lesbian Couple Plan To Relaunch Business

CONTINUE READING

District Judge Blocks California’s COVID ‘Misinformation’ Law

New York GOP Leaders Demand Answers For Migrant Relocation In Upstate Town

Arkansas Senate Bill Classifies Drag Shows As ‘Adult-Oriented Businesses’ In Effort To Protect Children

‘Subject To Felony Prosecution’: Gov. Kristi Noem Warns South Dakota Pharmacists Against Dispensing Abortion Pills

Ted Cruz Introduces Bill To Block Non-Citizens From Voting In Washington, D.C.

Ted Cruz Introduces Constitutional Amendment To Enforce Term Limits For Congress

News

Gay Rights

Lawsuit

Lesbian

Oregon

Same-Sex Marriage

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Christian Bakers Who Faced $135K In Penalties For Refusing To Make Wedding Cake For Lesbian Couple Plan To Relaunch Business