This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/27/gay-cake-order-taken-to-avoid-embarrassment-court-told

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Gay cake' order taken to avoid embarrassment, court told 'Gay cake' order taken to avoid embarrassment, court told
(about 3 hours later)
A director of a Belfast bakery that refused to bake a gay-themed cake has told a court she agreed to the order initially because she did not want to embarrass the customer or spark a confrontation.A director of a Belfast bakery that refused to bake a gay-themed cake has told a court she agreed to the order initially because she did not want to embarrass the customer or spark a confrontation.
But Karen McArthur acceptedthat Ashers bakery did not specify on its advertising that there were any conditions on what kind of cakes they would or would not bake. Karen McArthur, who owns the bakery with her husband, Colin, and son Daniel, acceptedthat Ashers bakery did not specify on its advertising that there were any conditions on what kind of cakes they would or would not bake.
Gareth Lee had ordered the cake to mark the election of the first openly LGBT mayor in Northern Ireland last year – the Alliance North Down councillor Andrew Muir. After accepting the order, 48 hours later the County Antrim firm refused to bake it because it objected on religious grounds to the pro-gay marriage message requested.Gareth Lee had ordered the cake to mark the election of the first openly LGBT mayor in Northern Ireland last year – the Alliance North Down councillor Andrew Muir. After accepting the order, 48 hours later the County Antrim firm refused to bake it because it objected on religious grounds to the pro-gay marriage message requested.
Ashers bakery is accused of discrimination under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (NI) 1998. The Equality Commission is funding Gareth Lee’s case against the business in the Belfast high court by up to £30,000. Ashers bakery is accused of discrimination under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (NI) 1998. The Equality Commission is funding Lee’s case against the business in the Belfast high court by up to £30,000.
Under questioning on Friday from Lee’s barrister, Robin Allen QC, McArthur said: “In my heart I knew that I would not be able to fulfil the order.” Under questioning on Friday from Lee’s barrister, Robin Allen QC, Karen McArthur said: “In my heart I knew that I would not be able to fulfil the order.”
Asked why she took it, McArthur said she did not want to cause Lee embarrassment or start a confrontation in the shop. She then consulted an elder in her branch of the Presbyterian church about the order. Asked why she took it, McArthur said she did not want to cause Lee embarrassment or start a confrontation in the shop. She said she then consulted an elder in her branch of the Presbyterian church about the order.
Allen suggested to McArthur that she should have told Lee right away that the bakery would not make the cake, to which she answered: “No.”Allen suggested to McArthur that she should have told Lee right away that the bakery would not make the cake, to which she answered: “No.”
On the “Support Gay Marriage” slogan Lee asked to be written in icing, McArthur said she would have “felt wrong in my own conscience putting it on a cake”.On the “Support Gay Marriage” slogan Lee asked to be written in icing, McArthur said she would have “felt wrong in my own conscience putting it on a cake”.
Colin McArthur told the court he had discussed with his wife “how we could stand before God and bake a cake like this, promoting a cause like this.”
The bakery’s QC, David Scoffield, said the business did not have a problem with the sexuality of its customers but rather the message contained on the cake. He said the bakery “served many gay customers on a daily basis”.
He added: “The issue was the content of the cake, not the content of [Lee’s] character.”
On Thursday, Lee told the court that although he used to be a regular customer at Ashers he felt like “a lesser person” and “unworthy” after they refused to bake the cake.On Thursday, Lee told the court that although he used to be a regular customer at Ashers he felt like “a lesser person” and “unworthy” after they refused to bake the cake.
Daniel McArthur, the bakery’s general manager and son of Karen McArthur, said the request for the cake with the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie on it was “at odds with what the Bible teaches”. Daniel McArthur, the bakery’s general manager, said the request for the cake with the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie on it was “at odds with what the Bible teaches”.
Ashers is named after one of the 12 sons of the biblical patriarch Jacob whose “food would be rich” and who “would provide delicacies fit for a king”. The bakery’s stance has the backing of the Democratic Unionist party, including Northern Ireland’s first minister, Peter Robinson.Ashers is named after one of the 12 sons of the biblical patriarch Jacob whose “food would be rich” and who “would provide delicacies fit for a king”. The bakery’s stance has the backing of the Democratic Unionist party, including Northern Ireland’s first minister, Peter Robinson.
The case continues.The case continues.