The Appeal Court in Belfast has today ruled that a local Christian-run business, Ashers Bakery, was wrong to refuse to decorate a cake with a pro-gay marriage message.
“This verdict is a defeat for freedom of expression. As well as meaning that Ashers can be legally forced to aid the promotion of same-sex marriage, it also implies that gay bakers could be forced by law to decorate cakes with homophobic slogans,” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
“It seems that businesses cannot now lawfully refuse a customer’s request to propagate a message, even if it is a sexist, xenophobic or anti-gay message and even if the business has a conscientious objection to it.
“Although I strongly disagree with Ashers opposition to marriage equality, in a free society neither they nor anyone else should be compelled to facilitate a political idea that they oppose.
“Ashers did not discriminate against the customer, Gareth Lee, because he was gay. They objected to the message he wanted on the cake: ‘Support gay marriage.’
“Discrimination against LGBT people is wrong and is rightly unlawful. But in a free society, people should be able to discriminate against ideas they disagree with. I am saddened that the court did not reach the same conclusion.
“The judgement opens a can of worms. It means that a Muslim printer could be obliged to publish cartoons of Mohammed and a Jewish printer could be required to publish a book that propagates Holocaust denial. It could also encourage far right extremists to demand that bakers and other service providers facilitate the promotion of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim opinions.
“What the court has decided sets a dangerous, authoritarian precedent that is open to serious abuse.
“Discrimination against people should be illegal but not discrimination against ideas and opinions,” said Mr Tatchell.
Jacki
October 24, 2016 at 1:26 pm
They’re not “discriminating against ideas” you stupid git, they’re discriminating against people and in a FREE society people should be allowed to be PEOPLE without some hater idiot discriminating against them as human beings. Stop making up excuses to oppress others. Your lame right to whinge about other people’s difference from you does not beat everyone else’s fundamental right to be treated equally. So shut up and sit down.
Timothy Sanford
October 25, 2016 at 8:13 am
You’re a dumbass for punishing these people. If Asher doesn’t want to bake, so what?? Stop being a damn crybaby and find someone else. Judge, shame on you go not understanding that we don’t want to bake. You should have told the couple to stop their damn whining and find someone else.
I hope you UN-SUE THEM IMMEDIATELY THEN APOLOGIZE