A Northern Ireland equality watchdog issued on 5 November a new legal threat against a Christian-run bakery, claiming that its refusal to produce a pro-gay marriage campaign cake breaches political discrimination laws.
In a 16-page letter, the taxpayer-funded Equality Commission for Northern Ireland demanded that Ashers Baking Company offer compensation to the complainant within seven days, or face litigation.
David v Goliath
The Commission claims that the McArthurs discriminated against a customer on the ground of his political opinion when they declined to decorate a cake with the campaign slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’. But Daniel McArthur, manager of Ashers, said they will not be forced to promote a cause which goes against their conscience. ‘We feel that the Equality Commission are pursuing us because of our beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman’, he said.
