This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28206581
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ashers Baking Company: 'Gay cake' row could end up in court | Ashers Baking Company: 'Gay cake' row could end up in court |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Christian-run bakery that refused a customer's request to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage could face a discrimination case in court. | |
| Ashers Baking Company declined an order from a gay rights activist, asking for cake featuring the Sesame Street puppets, Bert and Ernie. | Ashers Baking Company declined an order from a gay rights activist, asking for cake featuring the Sesame Street puppets, Bert and Ernie. |
| The customer also wanted the cake to feature the logo of a Belfast-based campaign group called "Queerspace". | The customer also wanted the cake to feature the logo of a Belfast-based campaign group called "Queerspace". |
| The County Antrim firm could face legal action from the Equality Commission. | The County Antrim firm could face legal action from the Equality Commission. |
| The watchdog confirmed it is assisting the customer whose order was refused and has written to the baking company on his behalf. | The watchdog confirmed it is assisting the customer whose order was refused and has written to the baking company on his behalf. |
| Christian beliefs | Christian beliefs |
| The bakery, which was founded in Newtownabbey in 1992, is run by the McArthur family. | The bakery, which was founded in Newtownabbey in 1992, is run by the McArthur family. |
| The directors, who are Christians, operate six shops in Northern Ireland and employ 62 people. | |
| The firm's 24-year-old general manager, Daniel McArthur, said marriage in Northern Ireland "still is defined as being a union between one man and one woman" and said his company was taking "a stand". | |
| The customer placed the order in Ashers' Belfast branch a number of weeks ago, and it was then passed to their head office. | |
| In an online statement, Mr McArthur said: "The directors and myself looked at it and considered it and thought that this order was at odds with our beliefs. | In an online statement, Mr McArthur said: "The directors and myself looked at it and considered it and thought that this order was at odds with our beliefs. |
| "It certainly was at odds with what the Bible teaches, and on the following Monday we rang the customer to let him know that we couldn't take his order." | "It certainly was at odds with what the Bible teaches, and on the following Monday we rang the customer to let him know that we couldn't take his order." |
| 'Discriminated' | 'Discriminated' |
| Mr MrArthur added that his firm offered the customer a full refund, which was collected shortly after the order was refused. | Mr MrArthur added that his firm offered the customer a full refund, which was collected shortly after the order was refused. |
| "We thought that was the end of it, but approximately six weeks later we received a letter from the Equality Commission. The Equality Commission's letter said that we had discriminated against the customer on the grounds of his sexual orientation. | "We thought that was the end of it, but approximately six weeks later we received a letter from the Equality Commission. The Equality Commission's letter said that we had discriminated against the customer on the grounds of his sexual orientation. |
| "It asked us to propose how we would recompense the customer for this discrimination. It also said it would pursue legal proceedings if we didn't respond within a seven-day time period," Mr McArthur said. | "It asked us to propose how we would recompense the customer for this discrimination. It also said it would pursue legal proceedings if we didn't respond within a seven-day time period," Mr McArthur said. |
| Legal assistance | Legal assistance |
| The general manager said he was "very surprised" by the watchdog's letter and his firm asked the Christian Institute for advice on how to deal with the case. | The general manager said he was "very surprised" by the watchdog's letter and his firm asked the Christian Institute for advice on how to deal with the case. |
| The institute is supporting the bakery's stance and is now providing legal assistance. | The institute is supporting the bakery's stance and is now providing legal assistance. |
| Mr McArthur said: "I feel if we don't take a stand on this here case, then how can we stand up against it, further down the line?" | Mr McArthur said: "I feel if we don't take a stand on this here case, then how can we stand up against it, further down the line?" |
| The general manager added that it was not the first time his company had refused customers' cake orders. | The general manager added that it was not the first time his company had refused customers' cake orders. |
| "In the past, we've declined several orders which have contained pornographic images and offensive, foul language." | "In the past, we've declined several orders which have contained pornographic images and offensive, foul language." |
| Mr McArthur added: "I would like the outcome of this to be that, any Christians running a business could be allowed to follow their Christian beliefs and principles in the day-to-day running of their business and that they are allowed to make decisions based on that." | Mr McArthur added: "I would like the outcome of this to be that, any Christians running a business could be allowed to follow their Christian beliefs and principles in the day-to-day running of their business and that they are allowed to make decisions based on that." |
| 'Unlawful discrimination' | 'Unlawful discrimination' |
| However, Gavin Boyd, a gay rights campaigner with the Rainbow Project in Northern Ireland, supported the customer's discrimination complaint. | |
| "It is because of sexual orientation that the company decided not to print this," Mr Boyd told BBC Radio Ulster. | "It is because of sexual orientation that the company decided not to print this," Mr Boyd told BBC Radio Ulster. |
| "The law is really clear. You cannot pick and choose which sides of the law apply to you. | "The law is really clear. You cannot pick and choose which sides of the law apply to you. |
| "If you are a company that is trading out there in the market place and someone comes to you, you can't pick and choose whether or not to fulfil that order based on their sexual orientation," Mr Boyd added. | "If you are a company that is trading out there in the market place and someone comes to you, you can't pick and choose whether or not to fulfil that order based on their sexual orientation," Mr Boyd added. |
| In a statement, the watchdog said: "The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland provides advice and can provide assistance to people who complain to us that they have suffered unlawful discrimination. | In a statement, the watchdog said: "The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland provides advice and can provide assistance to people who complain to us that they have suffered unlawful discrimination. |
| "In this case the commission has granted assistance to the complainant, and has written to the company concerned on his behalf. | "In this case the commission has granted assistance to the complainant, and has written to the company concerned on his behalf. |
| "The commission will consider any response before taking further action." | "The commission will consider any response before taking further action." |
| Northern Ireland is now the only part of the UK which has not passed a law to introduce same-sex marriage. | Northern Ireland is now the only part of the UK which has not passed a law to introduce same-sex marriage. |