A baker who identifies as a homosexual has released a video in which he scolds other homosexuals who are seeking to force Christian bakery owners to fulfill orders for same-sex ceremonies. Photo: Christian News

The owners of a Christian bakery in Oregon have officially been ordered to pay $135,000 in damages to two lesbians who claimed that they suffered emotionally after they were told that the bakery could not make a cake for their ceremony because of their convictions not to participate in others’ sins. Photo: Christian News

“I cannot tell you how disgusted I am with my fellow gay and lesbian community, that they would stoop so low to force someone to bake a cake for them who simply doesn’t agree with them,” states Jesse Bartholomew in the two-minute video posted to Facebook. “They don’t have to bake a cake for you.”

He says that he doesn’t understand why someone would want to “ruin” personal life events by strong-arming someone who finds the ceremony objectionable to facilitate the event anyway.

“Personally, that wedding cake should be so personal to you and your wedding—just as the ring, just as the invitations, just as to everything in planning a wedding,” Bartholomew states. “That cake which costs hundreds—and my cakes can cost thousands—Why would you want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a wedding cake and pay that money to someone who doesn’t want to make the cake for you?”

“That is your personal piece of your wedding: your guests eat that, your cake is involved in your photos, that cake is taken in your mouth and you eat it in your stomach,” he continues. “That baker has to spend hours perfecting that cake for you, for your wedding day. And if that cake isn’t perfect, then it ruins your wedding.”

Bartholomew continues to show his frustration, stating that trying to force the issue is “stupid.”

“So, you’re going to say that you want to force someone who doesn’t want to bake a cake for you …. There’s no other bakers out there?” he asks.

Bartholomew concludes by calling those who seek to force Christians to facilitate same-sex events against their beliefs “bullies” and “Nazis.”

“It’s plain and simple: You are bullying someone,” he said. “You are forcing someone. You are being a Nazi and forcing someone to bake a [expletive] wedding cake for you when there are hundreds of other gay and lesbians that would gladly have your business.”

“Shame on you,” Bartholomew declared.

The baker also created a meme to show his disapproval after he was accused of being a “homophobic right winger.”

“I’m a gay baker. I am disappointed that liberals and the LGBT community would stoop so low to bully a Christian baker because he or she simply refused to bake a same-sex wedding cake,” it reads. “Freedom goes both ways. There are plenty of bakeries and bakers to choose from.”

Bartholomew made the post and video public, out of his hopes that his message will be shared “since another bakery has been forced to shut down and face lawsuit.” The video has already obtained over 122,000 views.

See previous article published July 3, 2015

Christian Bakers refuse to make cake for ‘Gay Wedding’ 

- ordered to pay $135,000 to Lesbians

The owners of a Christian bakery in Oregon have officially been ordered to pay $135,000 in damages to two lesbians who claimed that they suffered emotionally after they were told that the bakery could not make a cake for their ceremony because of their convictions not to participate in others’ sins.

As previously reported, Aaron and Melissa Klein operate Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, which is now operated from the couple’s home after the Kleins’ shut their doors due to harassment. In January 2013, Aaron was approached by a mother and her daughter as the two were interested in a cake for the daughter’s upcoming wedding—to her lesbian partner.

“My first question was what’s the wedding date,” Klein told television station KTW in Portland. “My next question was [the] bride and groom’s name. … The girl giggled a little bit and said, ‘It’s two brides.’”

He then informed the women that the bakery does not make cakes for homosexual events.

“I apologized for wasting their time and said that, unfortunately, we do not do same-sex marriages,” Klein explained.

The women left Sweet Cakes upset about the incident, and later, one of them filed a complaint with the state. The Oregon attorney general’s office soon launched an investigation against the Klein’s as the state’s non-discrimination laws prevent public accommodations from being denied to any individual on the basis of “race, color, religion, sex [or] sexual orientation.”

But Klein states that he regularly serves homosexuals. He believes that there is a difference between serving homosexuals in general and having to personally facilitate same-sex ceremonies, which is an act of participation.

“I have customers come in almost on a weekly basis that are homosexual,” he said. “They can buy my stuff. I sell stuff. I talk with them. That’s fine. … This was not the first time we’ve served these girls.”

“We were being asked to participate in something that we could not participate in,” Klein’s wife, Melissa, noted.

Some Christians believe that being a part of a same-sex event violates the biblical command in 1 Timothy 5:22 not to be “partakers in other men’s sins,” as well as the command in Ephesians 5:7, “Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”

In February, a judge with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries ruled that the Christian bakers are guilty of discrimination for declining to make the cake, thus moving the matter into the sentencing phase. The Kleins had expressed concern prior to the ruling that if they were forced to pay a fine for declining the cake over their Christian convictions, the penalty would “definitely” bankrupt the family.

In April, Alan McCullough, an administrative judge with the bureau, recommended a fine of $135,000, with one of the women receiving $75,000 and the other $60,000. Prosecutors had sought damages of $75,000 each.

The two women, who have been identified as Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman, submitted individual lists of just under 100 aspects of suffering in order to receive the damages. They included “acute loss of confidence,” “doubt,” “distrust of men,” “distrust of former friends,” “excessive sleep,” “discomfort,” “high blood pressure,” “impaired digestion,” “loss of appetite,” “migraine headaches,” “loss of pride,” “mental rape,” “resumption of smoking habit,” “shock” “stunned,” “surprise,” “uncertainty,” “weight gain” and “worry.”

But the Kleins told the court that they too had suffered because of the attacks that they received over their desire to live out their Christian faith in the workplace. They stated that they endured “mafia tactics” as their car was vandalized and broken into on two occasions, their vendors were harassed by homosexual advocates resulting in some businesses breaking ties with them, and they received threatening emails wishing rape, death and Hell upon the family. As a result, they had to close their business and move it into their private home.

This week, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries accepted McCollough’s recommendation and fined the Kleins $135,000.

“This case is not about a wedding cake or a marriage,” the final order, written by Commissioner Brad Avakian, read. “It is about a business’s refusal to serve someone because of their sexual orientation. Under Oregon law, that is illegal.”

The Kleins told commentator Todd Starnes that they are disappointed by the order and plan to appeal.

“We were just running our business the best we could—following the Lord’s example,” Melissa Kelin stated. “I’m just blown away by the ruling. They are punishing us for not participating in the wedding.”

Aaron Klein vowed to fight Avakian in court.

“This man has no power over me,” he said. “He seems to think he can tell me to be quiet. That doesn’t sit well with me and I refuse to comply.”

Sweet Cakes by Melissa had served Cryer and Bowman for all other orders at their bakery, and even considered the women to be their friends.