Gay cake row: watchdog takes legal action against Christian bakery

The Equality Commission has confirmed that it is taking legal action against a Christian-run bakery in Northern Ireland for refusing to make a cake celebrating gay marriage.

Earlier this year, Ashers Baking Company, a family business based in Belfast, declined the request by a gay rights activist because it was "at odds" with the owners’ conservative beliefs, the BBC reports.

Last week, the equality watchdog sent a letter to the owners, warning them that they could face a sexual orientation discrimination case in court unless compensation was paid to the activist. It has now received notification from the owners' lawyers stating that their view remains unchanged and that their clients "have not acted unlawfully".

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The Rainbow Project, an LGBT support group based in Northern Ireland, said it was disappointed that the bakery would not apologise or offer compensation. "The reality is that we need to address the very serious issues that exist within our society around discrimination," its director John O’Doherty told the BBC.

Daniel McArthur, the baking company’s 24-year-old general manager, said that marriage in Northern Ireland is "still is defined as being a union between one man and one woman" and said that the company was taking a stand. "We believe it’s what God would want us to do," he said.

They insist they have even received support from people who disagree with their stance on gay marriage, but argue that they are entitled to the right to decline an order that "conflicts with our conscience".

Simon Calvert, a spokesperson for the UK’s Christian Institute said it was "simply baffling" that the commission is "threatening a Christian family – all because of a cake".

“Is the Commission seriously saying that all business owners have to be willing to promote every political cause or campaign, no matter how much they disagree with it? Does a printer have no right to refuse to print posters for the BNP or Islamic State?