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| 'Gay cake' appeal: Christian bakers Ashers lose appeal | 'Gay cake' appeal: Christian bakers Ashers lose appeal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have lost their appeal against a ruling that their refusal to make a "gay cake" was discriminatory. | The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have lost their appeal against a ruling that their refusal to make a "gay cake" was discriminatory. |
| Appeal court judges said that, under law, the bakers were not allowed to provide a service only to people who agreed with their religious beliefs. | Appeal court judges said that, under law, the bakers were not allowed to provide a service only to people who agreed with their religious beliefs. |
| Two years ago, the family-run firm refused to make a cake saying: "Support Gay Marriage". | Two years ago, the family-run firm refused to make a cake saying: "Support Gay Marriage". |
| It had been ordered by gay rights activist Gareth Lee. | It had been ordered by gay rights activist Gareth Lee. |
| The firm argued that the cake's message was against the bakers' religious views. | The firm argued that the cake's message was against the bakers' religious views. |
| Reacting to the ruling, Daniel McArthur from Ashers said he was disappointed. | |
| He said it undermined "democratic freedom, religious freedom and free speech". | |
| Witches on Halloween cake | |
| In court on Monday, three judges said it did not follow that icing a message meant you supported that message. | |
| In their ruling, they said: "The fact that a baker provides a cake for a particular team or portrays witches on a Halloween cake does not indicate any support for either." | In their ruling, they said: "The fact that a baker provides a cake for a particular team or portrays witches on a Halloween cake does not indicate any support for either." |
| The judges also said that Ashers would not have objected to a cake carrying the message: "Support Heterosexual Marriage" or indeed "Support Marriage". | The judges also said that Ashers would not have objected to a cake carrying the message: "Support Heterosexual Marriage" or indeed "Support Marriage". |
| "We accept that it was the use of the word 'gay' in the context of the message which prevented the order from being fulfilled," they said. | "We accept that it was the use of the word 'gay' in the context of the message which prevented the order from being fulfilled," they said. |
| "The reason that the order was cancelled was that the appellants would not provide a cake with a message supporting a right to marry for those of a particular sexual orientation. | "The reason that the order was cancelled was that the appellants would not provide a cake with a message supporting a right to marry for those of a particular sexual orientation. |
| "This was a case of association with the gay and bisexual community and the protected personal characteristic was the sexual orientation of that community. | "This was a case of association with the gay and bisexual community and the protected personal characteristic was the sexual orientation of that community. |
| "Accordingly this was direct discrimination." | "Accordingly this was direct discrimination." |
| Speaking publicly for the first time about the case, Mr Lee said he was both "relieved" and "grateful to the appeal court judges." | |
| The appeal court upheld the original court's decision that Ashers in County Antrim discriminated against Mr Lee. | The appeal court upheld the original court's decision that Ashers in County Antrim discriminated against Mr Lee. |
| At that time, the judge said she accepted that Ashers had "genuine and deeply held" religious views, but said the business was not above the law. | |
| The family's appeal was heard in May, but the judgement was reserved. | The family's appeal was heard in May, but the judgement was reserved. |