C4M responds to Ashers Baking Company defeat
May 20, 2015
Responding to yesterday’s ruling on Ashers Baking Company, Dr Sharon James said: “This is a deeply concerning judgment.
“Judge Brownlie has said that Ashers Baking Company discriminated against Gareth Lee for declining to decorate a cake with a slogan in support of gay marriage.
“She found that the company – which is owned by the McArthur family – had breached laws on sexual orientation and political discrimination.
“But this was never about Mr Lee’s sexual orientation – that wasn’t known by the company.
“And anyway, Ashers has always been happy to sell cakes to anyone.
“This was a case about supporting a cause with which the McArthur family conscientiously disagreed.
“Remember too that same-sex marriage is not the law of the land in Northern Ireland. In fact politicians have voted against the redefinition of marriage four times.
“This result is a blow for free speech. It’s an attempt to make people say things they don’t agree with.
“The family should be commended for standing up for their beliefs.
“Surely, in a democratic country, business owners can be free to make their living free from interference with their reasonably-held beliefs.”
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“I support defining marriage as the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.”