Another Religious Liberty Victory! Man Who Put Oregon Christian Bakers Out of Business Just Got Beaten
Another Religious Liberty Victory!
Man Who Put Oregon Christian Bakers Out of Business Just Got Beaten
Independent Journal Review reports:
For the first time in 14 years, Oregon voters elected a Republican to a state office, but there's a bit more to the story than simply a surprising win in a deep blue state.
Lawmaker Dennis Richardson, a respected, though losing, candidate for Oregon governor in 2014, came back to defeat well-known Democrat, Brad Avakian, in the race for Secretary of State.
Avakian is the state bureaucrat who went after the business of the Christian bakers, Sweetcakes by Melissa in 2013. The owners, Melissa and Aaron Klein, refused to create a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Though the bakery served gay customers, the couple believed that by participating in the wedding ceremony, they were condoning the marriage, which conflicted with their Christian beliefs.
Avakian's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) went after the Kleins, resulting in them being forced to close their business.
(Aaron Klein, one of the owners said about the losing candidate Avakian:)
"His losing was a good sign that people don't agree with somebody who is anti-constitutional to the nth degree. He never recognized our religious constitutional rights in his office."
Thank you IJR. for rest of report: