The owners of a bakery have reportedly been ordered to pay a lesbian couple £86K damages after refusing to make them a same-sex wedding cake.
Sweetcakes By Melissa owners Melissa and Aaron Klein were found guilty of discrimination based on sexual orientation in a preliminary hearing earlier this year.
They have now revealed they must pay damages to the couple involved “for emotional and mental suffering resulting from the denial of service.”
Discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited under Oregon law.
A ruling by Oregon's Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian reportedly read: “This case is not about a wedding cake or a marriage. It is about a business’s refusal to serve someone because of their sexual orientation. Under Oregon law, that is illegal,” the bureau’s order said.
“Within Oregon’s public accommodations law is the basic principle of human decency that every person, regardless of their sexual orientation, has the freedom to fully participate in society,” it added.
“The ability to enter public places, to shop, to dine, to move about unfettered by bigotry.”
Melissa and Aaron Klein reacted to the ruling in a Facebook statement.
“This effectively strips us of all our first amendment rights. According to the state of Oregon we neither have freedom of religion or freedom of speech,” the statement said.
“We will NOT give up this fight, and we will NOT be silenced. We stand for God’s truth, God’s word and freedom for ALL americans.
“We are here to obey God not man, and we will not conform to this world,” it continued. “If we were to lose everything it would be totally worth it for our Lord who gave his one and only son, Jesus, for us! God will win this fight!”
A lawyer representing the Kleins said he clients were likely her clients will appeal.
The Klein’s had previously told TheBlaze that a fine of $135,000 (£86K) recommended by an Oregon judge, could put them “out on the street.”