Oregon Bakery That Wouldn’t Bake a Cake for Gay Couple Closes

Sweet Cakes by Melissa has finally officially succumbed to the backlash received since refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. It closed its storefront back in 2013, but owners Aaron and Melissa Klein had been trying to reopen. Their farewell message on Facebook reads, "We have closed Sweet Cakes. We appreciate everyone's continued prayer and support." The Facebook post has been currently shared 148 times, received over 600 comments, and been liked by more than 1,300 people.

The Kleins are currently appealing a legal ruling, ordered by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, to pay $135,000 in damages to the same-sex couple. The Kleins paid the amount in-full, plus interest, in December 2015, and at the time, the Kleins' lawyer Tyler Smith explained the reasoning behind the payment. He said the Kleins paid because they were being charged nine-percent interest on the court-ordered amount, which equated to around $35 a day, and since their appeal wouldn’t be heard until 2016, Smith said it made sense to pay the amount immediately.

• Anti-Gay Gresham Bakery Sweet Cakes By Melissa Finally Closes [WWeek]
• Sweet Cakes by Melissa [Official Facebook]
• All Previous Sweet Cakes by Melissa Coverage [EPDX]