A baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple before allegedly calling them “abominations unto the Lord” is under investigation.
Aaron Klein, the owner of Sweet Cakes in Gresham, Oregon, is being scrutinized after a complaint was made by one of the brides-to-be.
She said Klein had served her before without any issue and that he only changed his mind once he learnt that the cake was for a gay marriage.
But he remains unrepentant in his actions, telling KATU: “They’ve made a choice to do what they’re doing, I’m making a choice to not be a part of it.”
Oregon Attorney General’s civil enforcement office is now looking into whether Klein, who openly admits to rejecting their custom, broke the law.
Discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation is outlawed under the Oregon Equality Act 2007.
Klein, who has denied calling the women “abominations,” told KATU: “I apologized for wasting their time and said we don’t do same-sex marriages.
“I honestly did not mean to hurt anybody, didn’t mean to make anybody upset, (it’s) just something I believe in very strongly.”
He said he would rather stick to his religious beliefs than make money.
And he added: “If I have to be, I guess, be penalized for my beliefs, then I guess, well, that’ll be what it is. My First Amendment rights allow me to practice my religion as I see it.”
A judge is expected to preside over the case.
