Bakery Balks at Paying Damages to Gay Couple

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The owners of a Portland-area bakery are refusing to pay $135,000 in state-ordered damages to a same-sex couple who were refused service.

Melissa and Aaron Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, cited religious beliefs when they refused to bake a wedding cake for Laurel and Rachel Bowman-Cryer more than two years ago.

Oregon's Labor Commissioner awarded the damages in July for emotional suffering, saying the owners violated the women's rights by discriminating on the basis of their sexual orientation.

The Kleins have appealed the ruling and are defying the order to pay. They're claiming financial hardship although crowd-funding efforts have brought in more than $500,000 on their behalf.

The Oregonian reports state officials have asked to place a lien on the Kleins' property or other assets.