Oregon bakery in gay wedding cake case closes

Sweet Cakes by Melissa, the Oregon bakery that denied service to a same-sex couple, has closed its door permanently. Melissa Klein, the co-owner, is shown here. Everton Bailey Jr., The Oregonian via AP, File.

Portland, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon bakery that denied service to a same-sex couple has closed its door permanently.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://is.gd/4y2J8j ) that according to a Sept. 29 Facebook post on a page for Sweet Cakes by Melissa the business shut down last month though the owners continue to sell cakes from their home.

Three years ago the bakery refused to make a wedding cake for Laurel and Rachel Bowman-Cryer. The Aaron and Melissa Klein said their refusal was prompted by religious beliefs.

In 2015, he Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries ordered the Kleins to pay $135,000 in damages to the couple. The Kleins paid the damages last year, but the couple has yet to receive the award. The money will remain in a government escrow account until the end of appeals.

Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – October 7, 2016 @ 3:10 p.m.