Sweet Cakes By Melissa Receives Donations After Judge Rules They Owe $135,000 To Lesbian Couple

The owners of an Oregon bakery that violated their state's anti-discrimination laws by turning away a lesbian couple who sought a wedding cake are on the receiving end of at least one current online fundraiser in an effort to pay back a fine of $135,000 or more.

An administrative law judge for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries ruled that Aaron and Melissa Klein, who operate Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, must pay Rachel Bowman-Cryer $75,000 in damages, and another $60,000 to her wife, Laurel Bowman-Cryer, Oregon Live reported.

However, the amounts are not final, as State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has the final authority to raise, lower or leave the proposed damages, according to the report.

The Kleins posted the following announcement on their business's Facebook page in response to the news:

We just found out that the judge has made his decision, he is ordering that we pay $135,000 in emotional damages. This...

Posted by Sweet Cakes by Melissa on Friday, April 24, 2015

A GoFundMe campaign had originally been set up for the Kleins but was reportedly taken down, as noted by the owners themselves, who claimed "Satan's really at work" in a Facebook post published early Saturday morning:

Evidently Go fund me has shut down our Go fund me page and will not let us raise any money. Satan's really at work but I know our God has a plan and wins in the end!

Posted by Sweet Cakes by Melissa on Friday, April 24, 2015

However, several hours later, Sweet Cakes By Melissa's Facebook page stated that the owners were fighting to reinstate the GoFundMe fundraiser and until doing so, supporters could donate money at a similar site:

The gofundme account that was set up to help our family was shut down by the administrators of gofundme because they...

Posted by Sweet Cakes by Melissa on Saturday, April 25, 2015

The original GoFundMe campaign had received in excess of $50,000 before being shut down.

In February, it was reported that the Kleins would have to pay the lesbian couple up to $150,000 after a judge ruled that their bakery was not a religious institution under the law.

Although they shuttered their bakery storefront in September 2013 in the wake of the anti-gay controversy, the Kleins still take orders online.

At the time of the 2013 incident, Aaron Klein argued that he and Melissa were simply living in accordance with their religious beliefs by rejecting the lesbian couple's request.

"I believe that marriage is a religious institution ordained by God," he was quoted as saying at the time. "I'd rather have my kids see their dad stand up for what he believes in than to see him bow down because one person complained."

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