Christian bakery loses ‘gay cake’ legal appeal
Court of appeal judges in Belfast upheld an original judgment, which ruled that Ashers’ Bakery had discriminated against a gay activist. They declined his order for a cake bearing the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’. The firm had been ordered to pay damages of £500.
The North is the only part of the UK and Ireland which prohibits same-sex civil marriage.
Ashers’ general manager, Daniel McArthur, said: “If equality law means people can be punished for politely refusing to support other people’s causes, then equality law needs to change. This ruling undermines democratic freedom. It undermines religious freedom. It undermines free speech.”
He said his family would consult lawyers to see if another legal challenge could be made.
Gareth Lee, a member of LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, whose order for the £36.50 cake was accepted, but later declined in a phonecall, said: “The only thing that I would like to say is I’m relieved and very grateful to the court of appeal.”
Ashers’, a name with Biblical connotations, has six branches across the North. It employs 80 people and delivers across the UK and Ireland.
