Flood of bad reviews for bakery that turned away same-sex couple
GRESHAM, Ore. -- Before last week, Melissa Klein says her Gresham bakery, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, had fewer than a dozen reviews on Yelp.
On Wednesday there were around 300. People from as far away as England have posted reviews – nearly all scathing – on the online business-review site.
“Tastes like hate,” a reviewer named John B. of Portland wrote on Tuesday.
“Whether or not your cakes are delicious or dry and disgusting is now completely irrelevant,” Elyse F. from New York also said Tuesday. “No one cares; almost all who hear about this will chose (sic) to take their business elsewhere so as to not support a discriminatory business.”
The barrage of negative comments began after the bakery made national news when the owners refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Melissa's husband Aaron Klein cited their religious position against same-sex marriage as the reason.
Investigators from the Oregon attorney general’s office are now examining whether the business violated the a 2007 Oregon law preventing businesses for discriminating based on sexual preference.
Wednesday morning, Melissa Klein said she was aware of the negative reviews, but was trying not to focus on them. She said her business is otherwise booming and that lots of folks have come to her bakery expressing well wishes.
“There’s nothing I can do about it. They’re allowed to do what they want to do,” Klein said. “It’s a little upsetting. There’s people writing on there who have never come to our shop.”
Klein said a friend alerted her to the Yelp reviews and she was horrified by them.
“People who claim to be so tolerant are not being very accepting of our beliefs,” she said. “It’s hurtful. It’s sad. We’re not hateful people. I have gay friends. We have acquaintances who are gay.”
The online backlash is apparently not affecting Sweet Cakes’ bottom line, either. Klein said she’s had to hire additional workers to keep up with the influx in business. One woman drove an hour to Sweet Cakes this week; she brought the bakery a Christian cross, Klein said.
The bakery’s phone is ringing off the hook. On Wednesday morning, there were 3,000 emails in Sweet Cakes’ inbox. Ninety-percent of the emails are positive, Klein said.
And none of the other online review sites has turned up overwhelmingly negative reviews, she said.
“I’m glad they’re not attacking all of our places,” Klein said.
This is not a case of someone just refusing to serve someone because they don't have shoes or a shirt on. This IS discrimination. Just like you can't discriminate and not serve someone of color, religion, etc, you can't discriminate against sexual orientation. Below is from the OR discrimination law.
<Discrimination in Public Accommodation A place of public accommodation is defined in state law as any place that offers the public accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges, whether in the nature of goods, services, lodging, amusements or otherwise. It is illegal to discriminate in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, or age (18 years of age and older).>
Doesn't matter what thier religion is telling them. They can be sued.
I don't know - I thought this was illegal. Â So they are against same-sex marriage so they refused to make a wedding cake - I guess that's a religious position but is it a business position? Â I know I've served many a person in my different jobs and I'm sure I've served all kinds of 'sinful' people along the way - I know I worked in the hotel and restaurant business where all kinds of behavior was going on - we still had to check them in, clean the rooms, serve them food - all the things that everybody gets. Â The only time I ever remember someone being refused service was if they were combative and then it depended - major league baseball teams could throw couches out of windows and still get service. Â I've served those gangster types and priestly types. Â All human beings, all needing the service that your business provides. Â Yes, i'm a Christian - or maybe I should say, a follower of Jesus Christ - not sure what Christian really means anymore.Â
 @Elaine2 Sounds like you've always been a "follower". These people are the owners.
@Stock Woodie - and you are? I am guessing an owner of a wonderful business? Are you trying to put me down because I'm an employee instead of an owner? What's your point?
Get over it you "Haters". The business has a right to refuse you service! If you don't like it go somewhere else. Wasn't it you "same sex people" that wanted the freedom do do what you want whether it is right or wrong? So what is the issue if the business owner want so do what they want right or wrong? It has to be the same rules for everyone not just your way! You choose to do what you do and they have the right to choose also. I side with the Business on this one.
@Astinious. It is against law in OR. A business cannot discriminate against someone based on sexual orientation. Same as if it was against someone of a different color.
 @Astinious So it's ok for us to not serve blacks and asians now? If you're old, you can't come in the store? I understand the choice to be discriminatory, but there are current "laws" to prevent this type of behavior.
Wow, it's all good until someone stands up for what they believe in, and since they don't agree with certain people, they must be bad or evil. I have gay friends, but I believe people are people. but whatever happened to the right to refuse service, I guess it would be ok to refuse them if they were neo-nazis. so I hope all the people complaing about this bakery find something better to do and go out and have some "American Fries" while the rest of us eat French Fries.
@Ride hard or go home.
It is against law in OR. A business cannot discriminate against someone based on sexual orientation. Same as if it was against someone of a different color.
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 @1sh0t1kill yes - but it's probably not the entire gay community doing the beeching.
You are missing a very important difference: The bakery owners have a conscious choice of whether to discriminate or not. Gays were born that way. They have no choice, just as you were born with a particular skin and eye color and sexual orientation. Would you think it's okay for a business to refuse service to you or refuse to hire you based on something you had no choice in?
men do unnatural acts on menâ¦..
women do unnatural acts on womenâ¦...
and they unnaturally pitch a fit about cakeâ¦...
cake is not the first thing to be concerned aboutâ¦..
leave the baker and his family aloneâ¦...
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 @lavaG See, it's that use of the word "unnatural" that tells everyone that you are a bigot. Do you think of people with black skin as "unnatural"? Do you think of people with brown eyes as "unnatural"? Do think of people born with cystic fibrosis "unnatural"? Why then, do you think of people born with a particular sexual orientation as "unnatural"? Are you going to backpeddle and say "Oh, I never said that, I was only saying their 'acts' are 'unnatural'!"? That won't get you out of the bigot hole either, since sexual attraction to whatever gender people's birth-given brains are wired for is as natural as it gets.
@Whatever @lavaG Unnatural fits quite nicely. Everyone has "CHOICES" to make in life. Make the most of yours.
Ridiculous. While I admit that I am against gay marriage myself, I think in any situation it would be child and ridiculous to post negative reviews of a business you have never frequented. If you really feel you must put your own opinion out there, then at least be truthful in your review. Perhaps stating that you've never actually been to the shop and have no idea what their products are like but you recently heard they did not support gay marriage and therefore would like to encourage a boycott of their business. At least that way you sound like a sensible human being! As for me, I would like to applaud them for standing up for their beliefs and what they feel is right. And as they said, you can have friends who are gay and realize that gay people are no worse than the rest of us (we have all sinned in one way or another) without supporting their lifestyle choice or the including same sex couples in your definition of marriage. What happened to all those people who were reassuring everyone that should same sex marriage laws be passed everyone would be allowed to follow their own beliefs when asked to provide services related to the weddings?
@justathought. This isn't standing up for beliefs, this is discrimination which is against OR law.
<Discrimination in Public Accommodation A place of public accommodation is defined in state law as any place that offers the public accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges, whether in the nature of goods, services, lodging, amusements or otherwise. It is illegal to discriminate in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, or age (18 years of age and older).>
 @justathoughtI guess you'd feel the same way if you were refused service. I'm thinking that when they went in there that they were not thinking about the owners religious beliefs. I'm thinking that they just wanted a cake. So it's a religious centric business. They should post a sign.
@Seattleite @justathought They don't need to put a sign up declaring their beliefs, nor do Gays need to wear a sign delcaring they like sex with their same gender.
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People need to stop being so thin skinned. Seriuosly.
@Ducky. Right. Just wait until you are refused service and see how you like it.
"On Wednesday there were around 300."
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The thing is,, everyone knows the reviews are bogus. Which make it an even bigger joke.
Stand your ground Melissa, you'll get more than enough business. Look at all the free press they are giving you for FREE...
Wow. The hypocritical LGBT supporters come out in droves. So much for tolerance, huh? You people make me sick.
@Tacoma ER Doc. So you think it is right to discriminate against a group of people? In this case there is a non-discrimination law in OR that protects people of sexual orientation, religion and other groups. No one can discriminate against that protected group.
 @Tacoma ER Doc tolerating bigots is not necessary in this day and age. exposing them makes them think about their selfishness. no cakes for same sex couples? that's childish.
 @agnosticbeliever  @Tacoma ER Doc To believe homosexuals are LEGITIMATELY married is asinine.
 @Tacoma ER Doc Really. Jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes. Anyone who claims their "religious beliefs" won't allow them to make a pastry for gays must be... Islamic? Certainly not Christian.
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The day is coming when people will no longer want Christians to frequent their businesses. Reap what you sow.
 @Cliff Wells - Yes, Jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes.  He didn't condone their actions however, but was bringing the message to them.Â
 @Cliff Wells  @Tacoma ER Doc @ Cliff Wells The issue is not the making of just any cake. They wanted a wedding cake. I'm sure that the bakery would have made them any other kind.
 @Tacoma ER Doc And I hope you mean ALL hypocrites make you sick or that'd make yourself a hypocrite as well.
 @Tacoma ER Doc Bigotry is never tolerated, even when it comes cloaked with the excuse of religion.Â
What I've always found interesting is how hypocritical liberals, feminist & the LGBT community can be. (For the record, I am neither a Dem or Rep. Nor do I belong to any political party since non of them work for common sense.) In this case, it's "discrimination" to them. And the guy is a bigot. But where are these people on crying about Smith College not admitting males upon their campus? Why is that not discrimination to them? Most certainly, anytime there's a male only school, they strive to hit it with a title 9 lawsuit. And if there's an industry that is male dominated, they claim it discriminates against females. Where are they on calling the lack of males as teachers in schools and as nurses discrimination against men? I have a big problem with hypocrites and those who engage in "cafeteria equality."
@Lisa . Below is the OR law with regard to discrimination.
"Discrimination in Public Accommodation A place of public accommodation is defined in state law as any place that offers the public accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges, whether in the nature of goods, services, lodging, amusements or otherwise. It is illegal to discriminate in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, or age (18 years of age and older)."
http://www.oregon.gov/boli/CRD/pages/c_crprotoc.aspx
YOu are a jerk for thinking this is just a bunch of liberal gay people complaining.
@LisaSomeone else can probably put it a lot more eloquently than me, but shunning a shunner is not being a hypocrite, it's called boycotting. People do it all the time for various reasons. Would you feel the same way if it had been a straight couple turned away because they were black? Or perhaps Jewish, or short, or whatever. You can't classify certain discrimination as okay. And boycotts due to an unpopular decision by a company are pretty common.
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 @Lisa Well, that's a false equivalence of course. Firstly, there laws that do not allow me to turn someone away from my business because they are black, or gay. If you want to go sue Hooters more power to you, but I'm not defending those people. It may surprise you to find out that there are quite a few male teachers and nurses, I seem them all the time, but that's because you are a small minded, small town ignoramus and you should be embarrassed of your intellect.Â
All this because of a damn cake. Enough already!  All the women needed to do was go to another bakery. Get over it already!
 @whatalife1 They thing is we also don't know the whole story...they could have told the same-sex couple some pretty hurtful things or vice versa. All in all I just wouldn't give a place like that my business but others are free to do as they choose.
 @whatalife1 You're 100% Correct. I used to live in Portland. All around the area in PRIVATE businesses are big signs that read: "WE REFUSE THE RIGHT TO OFFER SERVICE TO ANYONE." I personally do not have a problem with gay marriage. However, I do have a problem when the LGBT community tries to destroy a business or person for supporting a different view than theirs. I'll go out on a limb and argue most of the folks crying this guy is a bigot on this case would applaud/ support a bakery who refused to offer service to the Westboro Baptist Church. It's classic "Cafeteria Equality."Â
@Lisa @whatalife1 Putting up a sign does not give you rights. Your constitution and laws gives you rights. Your constitution also explicitly DOES NOT give you the right to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation (among other things). If you truly cannot understand that, then you'll be sitting there scratching your head when a judge levies penalties based on those actions.
@Lisa @whatalife1. http://www.oregon.gov/boli/CRD/pages/c_crprotoc.aspx
"Discrimination in Public Accommodation A place of public accommodation is defined in state law as any place that offers the public accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges, whether in the nature of goods, services, lodging, amusements or otherwise. It is illegal to discriminate in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, or age (18 years of age and older)."
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So it's ok to discriminate against people of color, religion, etc? Sexual orientation is a protected group as well. We are not distroying a business but we just wanted to be treated equal and this is not equal.
 @Lisa  @whatalife1 Didn't I already reply to your wrong interpretation of the law in another thread? Basically, those signs have no legal standing in cases where the 'victims' are specifically mentioned in the anti-discrimination law wording. So yes, a private business can refuse service to a bum, to ugly people, to pretty people, but no, they can't refuse service on the basis of gender, religion, sexual orientation, military veterans, and I think a few others I don't have written down right now.
then they should have said they were ugly, and that's why no cake. so they have to serve to categories that have had lawsuits force the issue. but "bums" can be refused, even though you don't the reason they live the way they do. their whole family could have been killed and their depression brought them to that point. This is what's wrong with America agree with me or I'll sue you
 @Lisa Reserve*
 @Lisa Actually the whole thing was jumbled. "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"*
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 @Jimzy No, we're not all equal. And I'm exhausted of a small minority trying to make everything gender-neutral and pretending everyone is the same. I appreciate the differences between the sexes. If they don't, that's fine. They're entitled to their opinions. But they need to stop forcing their views onto everyone and crying discrimination when people disagree. They self-perpetuate the problem by thinking everyone looks down on them. A vast majority support gay marriage, but for crying out loud, stop crying because there's a few that don't,Â
@Lisa.
So if you were not allowed to buy cake from a place that only believes in people being gay you wouldn't think that was discrimination? YOu would scream discrimination. Give me a break. Put the shoe on the other foot idiot.
 @Lisa  @Jimzy You're so right. Women to the back of the bus.Â
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You see, there's a difference between treating people equally and "pretending everyone is the same". I'm not the same as my wife, but I expect her to be treated equally.
By comparison, what the baker did was nothing compared to the verbal abuses heaped upon them by the many who have never even set foot in the door of the establishment. I think it is painfully obvious for any who would care to brave intellectual honesty that there's plenty of "hate" being leveled by individuals bent on trashing anyone who, because of their Christian beliefs, feels they do not want to support what they perceive as immoral. By the way, all the baker did was say they wouldn't be willing to bake the cake... then, evidently, all hell ensued.
@KP. They refused business to a protected by OR law, a group of people. So how is this hate by LGBT people?
What would your thoughts be if this bakery refused to serve a black person?
 @shipwrecked_and_comatose Thanks for your question. I would be disappointed and , assuming they refused service because of the color of their skin, I would have a talk with the owner and not support the business. Now a question for you; Do you believe that the color of one's skin, is the exact same thing, and just as immutable, as someone's sexual orientation? Check your sources before you answer.
Regards,
KP
@KP @shipwrecked_and_comatose. This is not simply a case of morality. Doesn't matter what the heck you 'feel or believe' about a group of people. It is against OR law to discriminate against a group of people.
<Discrimination in Public Accommodation A place of public accommodation is defined in state law as any place that offers the public accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges, whether in the nature of goods, services, lodging, amusements or otherwise. It is illegal to discriminate in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, or age (18 years of age and older).>Â Â
@KP @shipwrecked_and_comatose. Sexual orientation is a protected group in OR. Read below. It is the same thing.
<Discrimination in Public Accommodation A place of public accommodation is defined in state law as any place that offers the public accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges, whether in the nature of goods, services, lodging, amusements or otherwise. It is illegal to discriminate in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, or age (18 years of age and older). >
 @Cliff Wells  @shipwrecked_and_comatose To Cliff
Sure, at some point and regarding some matters, I would post my disappointment and encourage boycott. By the way, you say "phony Christian beliefs"; surely you've had a conversation with the baker to discern this because you would never base your statement on the "news" article (please say "no"). I don't presume to know if their faith is real or not.
Your post sounds as though you are comfortable sitting as judge.
'sorta colors your call for public shaming....
 @shipwrecked_and_comatose  @KP Perhaps you're missing the opportunity here to realize that choosing to not support someone else's moral universe does not automatically mean that you are dishing-out hate. I disagree with a number of premises that the gay community puts forward, but I have very little animosity to towards them and strive to treat them with respect by listening to what they have to say and being sensitive without compromising my core beliefs. You can strongly disagree but still treat with kindness. In fact it's the only way to hear and be heard. What you choose to build your morality around means that some things are "out" and some are "in". The baker believes that supporting gay marriage is "out", hopefully they did not say "f-you" but respectfully declined to lend their services. When asked why, a thoughtful response can clarify, or it can engender hatred by both parties. Bigotry is not required. Lots of respondents here have been way too quick to sit as jury and judge and condemn the baker.
 @Cliff Wells As a Yelper myself, I would never review any business based on my preconceptions. I would only give someone a bad review if they were actually a d-bag to ME. But there are like, hundreds of millions people out there who aren't me, and I can't control them (not yet, mwahahaha.)
 @KP  @shipwrecked_and_comatose And by "not supporting the business", would you just maybe share this information with as wide an audience as possible? Maybe using some sort of social media where people are likely to discover this information? Someplace like, oh I don't know... yelp.com?
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I agree that people shouldn't be making hateful comments as part of those reviews, but sharing the information on Yelp was certainly the correct option. Personally, I'm less fond of the government getting involved (after all, it's a private business), but I'm all for public shaming of this establishment and their phony Christian beliefs.
 @KP No. One cannot choose to be black.  I also don't think gay people choose to be gay. My source for that? My heart. What people CAN choose is whether or not they want to hate on other people based on differences in appearance, lifestyle, etc. You can't have it both ways. Either we choose as a society that we accept other people, foibles and all, or we go back to it being ok to say 'eff you, black person, you can't ride in the front of this bus." Or "'eff you (insert person of different race/color/religion), my holy book says you are are inferior, and it's an insult for me to share this space with you." I can go either way, I have pleanty of hate in me if it's ok to let it out, or I can be super nice to everyone...Â
 @shipwrecked_and_comatose Actually, after being too quick on the send button: reword my question as "Do you believe someone's sexual orientation is as immutable as the color of one's own skin?"
KP