Gay cake row: watchdog takes legal action against Christian bakery
Christians who refused to make a gay rights cake now face a sexual orientation discrimination court case
The Equality Commission has confirmed that it is taking legal action against a Christian-run bakery in Northern Ireland for refusing to make a cake celebrating gay marriage.
Earlier this year, Ashers Baking Company, a family business based in Belfast, declined the request by a gay rights activist because it was "at odds" with the owners’ conservative beliefs, the BBC reports.
Last week, the equality watchdog sent a letter to the owners, warning them that they could face a sexual orientation discrimination case in court unless compensation was paid to the activist. It has now received notification from the owners' lawyers stating that their view remains unchanged and that their clients "have not acted unlawfully".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Rainbow Project, an LGBT support group based in Northern Ireland, said it was disappointed that the bakery would not apologise or offer compensation. "The reality is that we need to address the very serious issues that exist within our society around discrimination," its director John O’Doherty told the BBC.
Daniel McArthur, the baking company’s 24-year-old general manager, said that marriage in Northern Ireland is "still is defined as being a union between one man and one woman" and said that the company was taking a stand. "We believe it’s what God would want us to do," he said.
They insist they have even received support from people who disagree with their stance on gay marriage, but argue that they are entitled to the right to decline an order that "conflicts with our conscience".
Simon Calvert, a spokesperson for the UK’s Christian Institute said it was "simply baffling" that the commission is "threatening a Christian family – all because of a cake".
“Is the Commission seriously saying that all business owners have to be willing to promote every political cause or campaign, no matter how much they disagree with it? Does a printer have no right to refuse to print posters for the BNP or Islamic State?
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Roman-era Brits kept lap dogs
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
‘Boris Johnson measures success in biceps rather than brain power’
Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis from the British and international press
By The best columns Published
-
‘France looks more ungovernable than ever’
Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis from the British and international press
By The best columns Published
-
‘Britain needs a democratic monarchy’
Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis from the British and international press
By The best columns Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The Week Unwrapped: Afghanistan, Florida and Northern Ireland
podcast Can the World Bank set the Taliban straight? Why is Florida saying ‘don’t say gay’? And what can we learn from the last trials of the Troubles?
By The Week Staff Published