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Anti-Gay Bakers Told To Pay $135,000 To Couple

Anti-Gay Bakers Told To Pay $135,000 To Couple

A bakery in the US state of Oregon has been ordered to pay $135,000 (£89,000) to a lesbian couple after refusing to make them a wedding cake two years ago.

An administrative law judge said that Sweet Cakes by Melissa discriminated against Rachel Bowman-Cryer and her wife Laurel Bowman-Cryer, causing them emotional suffering.

Melissa and Aaron Klein turned down a request to make the couple a cake at their business in the Portland suburb of Gresham in January 2013 after learning they were lesbians.

The Bowman-Cryers held a commitment ceremony in June that year and were married in May 2014.

The Kleins, who are Christian, say they believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

The Bowman-Cryers filed a complaint with the Oregon Labor Bureau under a statute which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The couple submitted a list of physical, emotional and mental damages they said they had experienced because of the Kleins.

On Friday, Judge Alan McCullough ordered the bakers to pay $75,000 and $60,000 apiece to the plaintiffs.

The fine must be approved by the state labour commissioner.

The Kleins, who closed their store in September 2013 amid all the negative publicity and now operate it from their home, say the ruling could bankrupt their family of seven.

A GoFundMe page raised more than $100,000 for them before it was shut down on Friday.

The website said it does not allow donations for anyone found to be in violation of the law.

"Satan's really at work," the Kleins said on their Facebook page.

They urged supporters to donate instead through the website of Samaritan's Purse, a Christian aid group.

An Indiana pizzeria raised more than $840,000 through GoFundMe after a backlash when its owners made anti-gay comments.

But GoFundMe said the parlour had not broken that state's law.