An Oregon judge ruled that a lesbian couple turned away by baker who refused to make their wedding cake on religious grounds, should receive $135,000 for their emotional suffering, the Oregonian reports.
The administrative law judge Alan McCullough for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries said Rachel Bowman-Cryer and her wife, Laurel Bowman-Cryer, should collect $75,000 and $60,000 respectively from the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. The proposed order was released on April 24.
“State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has the final authority to raise, lower or leave the proposed damages as is,” the Oregonian reports.
Aaron and Melissa Klein, who own the bakery, refused to bake their cake on grounds that it was against their religious beliefs. The couple closed their store in 2013.
Samaritan’s Purse founder Franklin Graham is appealing for donations to help the couple and others, who he said are being persecuted.
This was cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.
