I’ve just seen this on the BBC website. I only vaguely remember hearing about the row some time ago.
Ashers is a bakery in Northern Ireland. It is run by devout Christians, and when they were approached by a militantly gay person to make a cake with a gay slogan on it, they refused. The customer, Gareth Lee – who is described as “a gay rights activist”, hence my use of the word “militant” – took them to court.
Well, it seems that the judge has rule against Ashers. Ashers had said before the judgement:
We happily serve everyone but we cannot promote a cause that goes against what the Bible says about marriage.
We have tried to be guided in our actions by our Christian beliefs.
The judge ruled:
[Ashers are] conducting a business for profit, [they are not a religious group,]They were found to have discriminated against Mr Lee on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Martin McGuinness (Deputy First Minister) tweeted:
Asher’s bakery judgement a good result for equality, Gay people have for far too long been discriminated against. We and the law on their side.
David McIlveen (DUP) tweeted:
Utterly sickened that a Christian owned business has been hauled over the coals for refusing to promote something that is not legal in NI.
Personally, I can see an appeal coming on (if NI allows that sort of thing). Ashers would happily have provided Lee with a cake. They just refused to put a gay slogan on it. It makes you wonder what would have happened if they’d have refused to make one with a pro-jihadist slogan. By the precedent set in this judgement, they would therefore be guilty of racial discrimination.
And what about fast food outlets run by Muslims who only use Halal meat? Since – also by precedent – they are not religious groups either, but profit-making enterprises, shouldn’t they be required by Law to also provide non-Halal meat? Oh, and pork products? Can you imagine the flood of racial discrimination claims that would arise if they were forced to do these things? And who do you think would win?
Note that I am simply commenting on the skewed logic of the judgment. Don’t try and read into my views on any of those involved as far as their beliefs or lifestyle preferences go (though I’m certain that’s exactly what some jackass is bound to do). I’m as much against having other people’s religious beliefs rammed down my throat as I am of having their sexual orientation similarly thrust at me.