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Melissa Klein, co-owner of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, with a customer earlier this year. (Everton Bailey Jr./The Oregonian)
A Gresham bakery that sparked controversy earlier this year by refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex couple closed up shop this weekend.
Though Sweet Cakes by Melissa is closing its store, the business will continue as an at-home bakery for custom cakes, according to the company’s
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Melissa Klein, co-owner of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, with a customer earlier this year. (Everton Bailey Jr./The Oregonian)
A Gresham bakery that sparked controversy earlier this year by refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex couple closed up shop this weekend.
Though Sweet Cakes by Melissa is closing its store, the business will continue as an at-home bakery for custom cakes, according to the company’s Facebook page.
Willamette Week reported earlier todaythat Saturday was the shop’s last day before the transition to an at-home business. The phone number will be changing, but cakes can still be ordered at [email protected], according to the Facebook page.
Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman of Portland filed a complaint with the state earlier this year after Sweet Cakes by Melissa refused to bake a wedding cake for the couple, citing religious reasons.
Aaron Klein, co-owner of the bakery, previously told The Oregonianthat he and wife Melissa sell to anyone regardless of sexual orientation but will not bake wedding cakes for a same-sex wedding because it goes against their Christian beliefs.
The complaint alleges that the bakery has violated Oregon laws that prohibit discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people in employment and public accommodations.
–Kari Bray