Melissa Klein, the bakery owner who refused a wedding cake to a same-sex couple, cried to the audience at the Values Voters Summit, as she and her husband face a $150,000 lawsuit due to their actions last year.
Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian told the bakery owners that they were violating the state's antidiscrimination law. Melissa and Aaron Klein told the crowd at the summit that they were within their constitutional right to religious expression to refuse the cake to the couple. Aaron Klein asked the crowd to pray for Avakian, who will hand down the ultimate ruling in the case, according to The Oregonian.
"He said we have religious freedom but don't have the right to break the law," Aaron Klein said. "And in saying that, he's already declared our guilt. I'd say, pray for him, pray for a changing of his mind."
The January 2013 incident has led to a $150,000 lawsuit by the state of Oregon against the bakery for its discriminatory practices. After denying the lesbian couple a wedding cake, the bakery proudly boasted cakes for an ex-gay organization.
"For me personally when I would sit down with them, I just would want to know everything about her wedding," Klein said through tears. "I'd want to know about the flowers, her dress, the centerpieces, her colors, the way her hair is going to be. I would even want to talk about 'where are you going on your honeymoon?'"
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