The Ashers Baking Company refused to make a cake with the pro-gay marriage slogan ‘Support gay marriage’ emblazoned upon it, along with pictures of two characters from Sesame Street and the name of the group, Queerspace. Interestingly, Gay/sodomite marriage is presently illegal in Northern Ireland. The impression created in many minds is that the Bakery was targeted by those who knew the Christian beliefs of the owners.
The Bakery owners are being taken to court by the Stormont funded Equality Commission. This unelected quango wrote to the Bakery last July threatening legal action if it did not apologise and pay compensation for refusing service. The owners rightly refused and in November the Equality Commission decided to press ahead with the case.
The Bakery owners are being taken to court by the Stormont funded Equality Commission. This unelected quango wrote to the Bakery last July threatening legal action if it did not apologise and pay compensation for refusing service. The owners rightly refused and in November the Equality Commission decided to press ahead with the case.
The Christian Institute's Legal Defence Fund are funding the Bakery's case. A leading QC, AIDAN O’NEILL, has given his legal opinion about the case. He was asked to advise The Christian Institute on the general implications for freedom of conscience and for the protection of freedom of expression arising from the litigation Gareth Lee v. Ashers Baking Company Limited. That legal opinion can be accessed below:
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