Has anyone read about this?

Please read this before voting, and no matter how you vote, explain why you answered the way you did


Oregon Bakery Owner Aaron Klein Denies Lesbian Couple A Wedding Cake



An Oregon baker could face legal action after turning away a lesbian couple who sought a cake for their forthcoming wedding.
As KATU first reported, Sweet Cakes Bakery owner Aaron Klein admitted he denied a lesbian bride-to-be service after she visited his shop on Jan. 17. The woman who filed the complaint tells the station that she had previously purchased a wedding cake from Sweet Cakes for her mother, and was only refused after she specified that this cake was for a same-sex wedding.
Klein, who reportedly owns the bakery with his wife Melissa, told NBC he was simply living in accordance with his religious beliefs by rejecting the lesbian couple's request. Furthermore, he believes his decision to deny the couple service is protected by his Constitutional right to practice his religion as he sees fit.
"I believe that marriage is a religious institution ordained by God," Klein is quoted as saying. "A man should leave his mother and father and cling to his wife ... that to me is the beginning of marriage."
Specifying that he does not consider himself to be anti-gay -- "I'll sell [gay people] stuff...I'll talk to them, it's fine" -- Klein went on to note, "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."
While he denies the lesbian couple's charge that he referred to them as "abominations unto the Lord," he said he'd rather close down his business than "be forced to do something that violates my conscience," according to KATU.
But now, the question for Oregon Attorney General's civil enforcement officers is whether or not Klein's beliefs are enough to defend him against the Oregon Equality Act of 2007, which prohibits discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, KPVR reports.

It isn't the first time that a same-sex couple has been turned away for a wedding cake. In July, a Colorado gay couple hoped to order a cake from Lakewood's Masterpiece Cakeshop but were reportedly refused by owner Jack Phillips, who is said to have told them his business doesn't support same-sex marriage.
Similarly, in November 2011, a lesbian couple was denied a wedding cake by the Christian owner of an Iowa-based bakery. "I didn't do the cake because of my convictions for their lifestyle," Victoria Childress, who runs her bakery from home, told KCCI-TV at the time. "It is my right, and it's not to discriminate against them. It's not so much to do with them, it's to do with me and my walk with God and what I will answer [to] Him for."

There is a video at this link
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/aaron-klein-oregon-bakery-owner-lesbian-wedding-cake_n_2615563.html

Well it is a private business and he can refuse to anyone. So I dont think its a right or wrong issue as hes clearly within his legal rights but that doesnt make his opinion on the issue sucky or ignorant.


The baker from Ace of Cakes offered to make them a cake free of charge and drive it up to them.

So the people who think he is right, why do you think he is right in what he is doing? It seems to me that he is possibly breaking a state law for discrimination.

I dont personally think its right but it is his right to turn away any customer he see fit from his business. could he get sued for discrimnation maybe. any business can ask any customer to leave and deny thme service

Quoting Sarah Bare-ah♡:" Well it is a private business and he can refuse to anyone. So I dont think its a right or wrong issue ... [snip!] ... the issue sucky or ignorant. The baker from Ace of Cakes offered to make them a cake free of charge and drive it up to them."

Actually he can't, he could be shut down because of this. Duff Goldman is the reason that I found out about this story, he is awesome

Duff Goldman from ace of cake offered to make their cake and transport it, for free, because of this. Which I think is awesome

I voted he is right...its his business he has put all the money in it, why does it matter if he denies somebody something. If he denied me I would be upset but ya know what there is a place that would deserve my money than some idiot like him.

Oh and I do not agree with what he did .

I don't agree with his decision, but I do agree he has the right to decide who he serves. It's his bakery.

Quoting Taryn - Anya's mommy:" Actually he can't, he could be shut down because of this. Duff Goldman is the reason that I found out about this story, he is awesome"

So you cant refuse service to people for any reason anymore?

He has the right to refuse service. I don't believe he's breaking any laws.

But its discrimination, and he could very well be breaking a state law and be shut down for it.

Quoting Sarah Bare-ah♡:" Well it is a private business and he can refuse to anyone. So I dont think its a right or wrong issue ... [snip!] ... the issue sucky or ignorant. The baker from Ace of Cakes offered to make them a cake free of charge and drive it up to them."

Dude, I want an Ace of Cakes cake!!

Quoting Sarah Bare-ah♡:" So you cant refuse service to people for any reason anymore?"

not for discrimination reasons

As a business owner you have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason so he is right for that. But as for not doing it I honestly think that is wrong but you know they could always just go to another place and get a different cake and spend their money elsewhere.

I am up in the air.

It's the man's business, and technically he has the right to refuse service to anyone. However, discrimination isn't a part of that right.

At the same time though, the man is right that he should be allowed to practice his religious beliefs BUT, if that's the case he shouldn't have turned away a lesbian couple if he has served many other homosexuals by allowing them to purchase here and there things from his shop.

After typing that out, I have concluded this. It's hypocrisy at its finest, and he was wrong to do it.