Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Christian bakers who refused to make wedding cake for lesbian couple forced to close after death threats
...According to The Blaze, which saw some of the hate mail received by the bakers, one read: 'You stupid bible-thumping, hypocritical b**ch. I hope your kids get really, really, sick and you go out of business,' and another said: 'Here’s hoping you go out of business, you bigot. Enjoy hell.'

The couple told the news service their customers had been 'badgered and harassed' not to do business with the bakery and subsequently, orders for wedding cakes this summer were significantly lower than usual.

Some clients even cancelled existing orders because of the public debacle, the Blaze said....

...Authorities are investigating whether the business violated the Oregon Equality Act of 2007, which protects the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people in employment, housing and public accommodations.

If the complaint is upheld, the inquiry could be referred for prosecution or a settlement may be negotiated.

This is reportedly the 10th complaint to the state in the last five years involving allegations of discrimination in a public place based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian told The Oregonian at the time that people are entitled to their beliefs, but aren't allowed to discriminate.