It’s like a science fiction nightmare, say Christian bakers in gay marriage cake case
By John Bingham, Telegraph:
The Christian bakers taken to court for refusing to make a cake promoting gay marriage say their experience is like living in a dystopian “science fiction” world where the state orders people to say things they do not believe.
Daniel McArthur, general manager of Ashers Baking Co, and his wife Amy insisted they would “do it all again” despite being pursued through the courts by a government equalities body and fined for discrimination.
The family firm, based on Newtonabbey, near Belfast, found itself at the centre of an international storm in summer 2014 after cancelling an order for a cake featuring the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie with the slogan “support gay marriage”.
Gareth Lee, a member of the group Queerspace, had ordered the cake for a special event to mark international day against homophobia.
The McArthurs, who are evangelical Christians, said they could not in conscience make the cake because they believe same-sex marriage is against the teaching of the Bible.
But Mr Lee, backed by the Equality Commission, a state-funded body which operates in Northern Ireland, said it amounted to discriminationunder laws which ban refusing to provide services on grounds of religion, race or sexual orientation.
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