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(Left to right) Karen, Daniel and Amy McArthur of Ashers Baking Company
# GAY CAKE GATE
Bakers who refused to make 'gay cake' to appeal case all the way to the Supreme Court
The UK Supreme Court will hear the case in October.
THE HIGHEST COURT in the UK will hear the case of a Christian-owned bakery who were judged to have breached equality laws by refusing to make a wedding cake that supported gay marriage.
In 2015, a Belfast District Court ruled that the Ashers Bakery’s refusal to bake the cake amounted to “a clear case of discrimination”.
Late last year, the bakery lost an appeal to that ruling.
The UK Supreme Court will hear an appeal to the case in October.
Daniel McArthur, general manager at Ashers, said: “The fact that the Supreme Court is willing to hear arguments is very encouraging and reflects the importance of the issues and the high-profile nature of the case.”
The Ashers Bakery Company had initially taken the order from a customer for a cake with a picture of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street – with a slogan that read ’Support Gay Marriage’.
The customer also asked for the logo of LGBT organisation Queer Space to be placed on the icing.
Igniting what was to become a long-running public row – Ashers said that, after consulting about the order, they decided that they would not be able to complete it, and informed the customer before refunding him.
It was decided by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission that their decision breached laws against discrimination. This was backed up by the District Court and the High Court.
Read: The bakery in the ‘gay cake row’ is back in court to fight the judgement
Read: Couple at the centre of ‘gay cake’ row say they ‘don’t hate anyone’
