'Gay cake' bakery owners appeal against discrimination verdict
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Version 0 of 1. A bakery in Northern Ireland found guilty of discriminating against a gay customer after it refused to bake a gay marriage-themed cake is to appeal against the ruling. Belfast county court ordered Ashers Baking Company to pay £500 in damages for “injury to feelings” after Judge Isobel Brownlie ruled the customer had been treated less favourably and the bakery had breached political and sexual orientation discrimination regulations. The Christian Institutue, which backed the McArthur family who own the bakery, confirmed on Thursday that an appeal against the decision had been launched. The family said: “After much careful and prayerful consideration given to legal advice, we have decided to appeal the judgment handed down last Tuesday. We continue to insist that we have done nothing wrong as we have discriminated against no individual, but rather acted according to what the Bible teaches regarding marriage. “As many other people have already noted, Christian beliefs seem to have been trampled over in this judgment and we believe this only has negative effects for our society. Our hope and prayer would be that an appeal will allow us and other Christians to live out their faith in Jesus Christ in every part of their lives, including their workplace.” In her ruling last week, Brownlie acknowledged that the McArthurs “hold genuine deeply held religious beliefs”. However, she pointed out that government regulations were designed “to protect people from having their sexual orientation used for having their business turned down … I believe the defendants did have the knowledge that the plaintiff was gay.” Our prayer is that an appeal will allow us to live out our faith in Jesus Christ in every part of our lives Outlining her reasons why this was a case of discrimination, Brownlie said: “The defendants are not a religious organisation. They conduct a business for profit. As much as I acknowledge their religious beliefs, this is a business to provide service to all. The law says they must do that.” Belfast gay rights activist Gareth Lee reported the bakery to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland after it reversed an agreement to bake the cake with the pro-gay marriage message. During the three-day hearing in March, Lee said the decision by Ashers to refund the £36.50 he had paid for the cake “made me feel I’m not worthy, a lesser person, and to me that was wrong”. Simon Calvert, of the Christian Institute, said: “I believe most people think that this is a ruling that should be overturned. There has been such extraordinary support from people from all walks of life who are appalled by what has happened to the McArthur family. There is huge public support for an appeal and it is vitally important that the higher courts consider this issue. This court decision will have dramatic consequences if it stands.” |