[ad_1]
Copyright of the image
Reuters
Daniel and Amy McArthur, who owns Ashers Bakery, welcomed the Supreme Court ruling
Christian owners of a bakery in Northern Ireland have won their appeal in the so-called "gay cake" discrimination case.
The UK's highest court ruled that Ashers' refusal to manufacture a cake with a slogan in favor of same-sex marriage was not discriminatory.
The five justices of the Supreme Court were unanimous in their judgment.
The high-profile dispute began in 2014 when the bakery refused to make a cake with the slogan "Support Gay Marriage".
The client, gay rights activist Gareth Lee, sued the company for discrimination based on sexual orientation and political beliefs.
Ashers lost the case and the appeal that followed, but on Wednesday the company won the case in the Supreme Court.
The legal battle, which has lasted nearly four and a half years, has raised questions about equality and freedom of conscience.
"The most expensive cake in British history"
By Mark Simpson at the London Supreme Court
We will now ask if the Equality Commission was right to spend more than £ 250,000 of public money in this case.
The commission supported Mr. Lee, who ordered the "gay cake" but was refused.
Four years later, and after drafting a huge bill, the Supreme Court ruled that it was not a case of discrimination.
The Ashers bakery has spent more than £ 200,000 in this business. He is paid by the Christian Institute, a charity and lobbying group.
The cake in the middle of the dispute would have cost £ 36.50.
It turned out that the order of cakes was the most expensive in the history of the United Kingdom.
Ashers Bakery General Manager Daniel McArthur said he was delighted and relieved by the decision.
"I know that many people will be happy to hear this decision today because this decision protects freedom of expression and freedom of conscience for all," McArthur told the court. .
Gareth Lee asked for a cake featuring characters from Sesame Street, Bert and Ernie
Gareth Lee, the gay rights activist who pleaded with Ashers, said the decision allowed him to feel like a second-class citizen.
"For me, it was never a matter of conscience or statement – all I wanted was to order a cake from a store," he said.
He expressed concern about "the implications for the entire gay community".
The Commission for Equality in Northern Ireland, which backed Gareth Lee's action against Ashers, said she would carefully study the implications of the shutdown.
"It is to be feared that this judgment will create uncertainty as to the application of the law on equality in the commercial sphere, both on what companies can do and what customers can do. wait, "said Dr. Michael Wardlow, president of the organization.
What is the line about?
The client, Gareth Lee, asked for a cake featuring characters from Sesame Street, Bert and Ernie, with the message: "Support gay marriage".
Copyright of the image
Reuters
Gareth Lee (left) was supported throughout the lawsuit by the Commission for Equality
His order had initially been accepted at an Ashers branch in downtown Belfast, but two days later, the bakery company's headquarters had contacted Mr. Lee to tell him that Business would not make the cake.
Why did the bakers refuse?
The Antrim County Family Bakery has called the gay marriage slogan "inconsistent" with its religious beliefs.
But he points out that the problem of the company concerned the slogan and not Mr. Lee, stating that she would have refused the same order of a heterosexual client.
Copyright of the image
Pacemaker
Daniel McArthur said that Ashers refused to make the cake because of his message
When he arrived in the Supreme Court for the start of the case in May, Ashers chief executive, Daniel McArthur, said: "We have not said no because of from the customer, we had already served it before, we would serve it again.
"It's because of the message, but some people want the law to force us to support something we do not agree with."
What did the court say and why?
Lady Hale, president of the Supreme Court, said the bakers had not refused to execute her order because of her sexual orientation.
"They would have refused to make such a cake for any customer, regardless of their sexual orientation," she said.
"Their objection was about the message on the cake, not the personal characteristics of Mr. Lee."
She added: "As a result, the court finds that there has been no discrimination because of Mr. Lee's sexual orientation."
What does this mean for the law?
When Mr. Lee first acted against the firm, he stated that the actions of the bakery gave him the impression of being part of a minor.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no political discrimination or discrimination based on Mr. Lee's sexual orientation.
"This conclusion does not diminish the need to protect homosexuals and those who support same-sex marriage from discrimination," Lady Hale said.
"To deny to anyone the service rendered because of their race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, is deeply humiliating and contrary to human dignity.
"But that's not what happened in this case."
Five Supreme Court justices went to Belfast earlier this year to hear the case.
