Newtownabbey bakery threatened with legal action over gay marriage cake

A Christian-owned Newtownabbey bakery which refused to print a cake featuring the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ has been threatened with legal action by the Equality Commission.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Jul 2014, 13:55 BST
The image which Ashers Bakery refused to print on the cake for a Queerspace campaignerThe image which Ashers Bakery refused to print on the cake for a Queerspace campaigner
The image which Ashers Bakery refused to print on the cake for a Queerspace campaigner

Asher’s Bakery, which has been running for 22 years, refused to bake the cake featuring Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie as it conflicted with their Christian beliefs about marriage being between a man and a woman.

The cake was ordered at the bakery’s Belfast branch in May by volunteer LGBT activist Gareth Lee, who asked for it to be decorated with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ and the logo of his campaign group, QueerSpace.

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However, the bakery’s manager David McArthur said the company refused the request because it was “at odds with our beliefs, and certainly was in contradiction with what the Bible teaches about marriage.”

Mr Lee was given a refund.

The Equality Commission has subsequently written to the company threatening to pursue legal proceedings.

• For the full story see this week’s Newtownabbey Times, in shops from July 9.

Related topics:NewtownabbeyBelfast