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'Gay cake' row: Judge to rule on Ashers Bakery v Gareth Lee 'Gay cake' row: Judge to rule on Ashers Bakery v Gareth Lee
(about 2 hours later)
A judge's ruling on a Christian-run bakery's refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage is expected later. A judge's ruling on a Christian-run bakery's refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage is expected at a court in Belfast later.
Ashers Baking Company in Belfast has been accused of discrimination. Ashers Baking Company has been accused of discriminating against a customer on grounds of sexual orientation.
Gay rights activist Gareth Lee took the civil case against the firm with the support of the Equality Commission.Gay rights activist Gareth Lee took the civil case against the firm with the support of the Equality Commission.
The bakery's owners said they had refused the order because the cake's slogan was against their "sincerely held" Christian beliefs. The bakery's owners said they refused the order because the cake's slogan was against their religious beliefs.
Mr Lee had ordered the cake with the slogan "Support Gay Marriage" for an event to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in 2014. 'Difficult time'
His order was initially accepted, but later it was turned down and his money was returned. Speaking outside the Belfast court ahead of Tuesday's ruling, Ashers general manager Daniel McArthur said: "We happily serve everyone but we cannot promote a cause that goes against what the Bible says about marriage.
Mr Lee claimed he was discriminated against on the grounds of his sexual orientation. "We have tried to be guided in our actions by our Christian beliefs."
He told the court in Belfast in March that the bakery's refusal made him feel "unworthy" and " a lesser person". Mr Lee had ordered the cake with the slogan "Support Gay Marriage" for an event to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in May 2014.
A lawyer for the bakery argued the issue was "the cake, not the customer". The firm initially accepted the order but later contacted the customer to cancel the order and return the money he had paid.
The baker, Karen McArthur, said she did not know Mr Lee was gay and it would not have mattered. Mr Lee told the court in Belfast in March that the bakery's refusal made him feel "unworthy" and " a lesser person".
Ashers would not have been prepared to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan for anyone. Mr McArthur said the high-profile legal battle had been a "difficult time" for his family.
"A year ago, we could not have anticipated that a polite refusal would result in our family being pursued through the courts by a publicly-funded quango," he said.
"Because of the Equality Commission's decision we have endured many anxious months."
The court case in Belfast ran for three days in March.The court case in Belfast ran for three days in March.
During the hearings, a lawyer for the bakery argued the issue was "the cake, not the customer".
One of the bakers, Karen McArthur, said she did not know Mr Lee was gay and it would not have mattered.
Ashers would not have been prepared to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan for anyone.
The Equality Commission has set aside a fund of up to £40,000 to pay for legal costs in the case.The Equality Commission has set aside a fund of up to £40,000 to pay for legal costs in the case.
The commission has been criticised in recent months by a number of unionist politicians over the decision to take the case.The commission has been criticised in recent months by a number of unionist politicians over the decision to take the case.