What is Belfast's 'gay cake' case?

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/26/what-is-belfasts-gay-cake-case

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What is the “gay cake” case?

Opening at Belfast high court on Thursday morning, it involves a gay-themed cake, a bakery run by devout Christians, and the future of equality legislation not only in Northern Ireland, but throughout the UK and possibly beyond. Ashers Bakery versus the Equality Commission has far-reaching implications for the competing rights of faith-based communities and gay people.

Bert and Ernie

The court case was triggered by the refusal of a bakery owned by two evangelical Christians to bake a gay-themed cake last year. The lawsuit began after Gareth Lee asked for a cake decorated with images of the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie to be made in honour of Andrew Muir – Northern Ireland’s first openly gay mayor. Lee also asked for the message ‘Support Gay Marriage’ laid out in icing on the cake.

Ashers say no

Ashers Baking Company, a family-run bakery based in County Antrim, refused on grounds of conscience to bake the cake. General manager Daniel McArthur said the request was “at odds with what the Bible teaches”. (Ashers is named after one of the 12 sons of the biblical patriarch Jacob.) The bakery’s stance won the backing of the Democratic Unionist party, including first minister Peter Robinson.

Equality Commission says yes

Under Northern Ireland’s strict anti-discrimination laws, the Equality Commission is obliged to champion the complaints of those who claim to have been discriminated against on the grounds of their religion, race, age, gender or sexuality. Once a complaint of discrimination regarding Ashers was lodged with the ECNI, a court case against the bakery was inevitable. The commission and the local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community believe that if Ashers is allowed to refuse to do business with any minority group, an important precedent will be set: in effect, a licence to discriminate.

A Christian cause celebre

Evangelical Christians across the world have rallied to the cause of Ashers Bakery. They have sought to portray the case being taken against the family run firm as an example of aggressive anti-Christian secularism. The DUP – Northern Ireland’s largest political party – has seized upon the controversy and is attempting to introduce a conscience bill into the Northern Ireland Assembly allowing religious groups to refuse to do business with those whose lifestyles they strongly object to, such as the gay community.