PORTLAND, Ore - The Portland-area bakery that caused a massive controversy when it refused to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding announced on Facebook that it has closed.



The owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa raised more than $500,000 through an online campaign after they cited their religious beliefs in refusing to bake a wedding cake for Rachel Bowman-Cryer and her now-wife, Laurel Bowman-Cryer, in 2013.



Owners Aaron and Melissa Klein went on to become the face of the so-called religious liberty movement in the wake of the incident, and at one point refused to pay a $135,000 fine ordered by the State of Oregon. The Kleins eventually paid the fine, but the Oregonian reports the money is being held in escrow during appeals.









Announcement of the closure was as simple and abrupt as the case was long and complicated.



"We have closed Sweet Cakes," the bakery's Facebook page reads. "We appreciate everyone's continued prayer and support!"



The couple closed the Gresham storefront in 2013, but had continued to operate the business from home.



