Ashers Baking Co in Newtownabbey have received a letter from the Equality Commission after refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan.
It is not often that the world’s of bakery and gay rights clash but they have in Antrim. A Christian run bakery called Ashers Baking Co refused to make a cake featuring Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie and the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ because it was ‘at odds with [their] beliefs’.
They refunded the customer but a few weeks later received a letter from the Northern Ireland Equality Commission warning that they could face prosecution.
The Irish Times quotes the Commission: “In this case the commission has granted assistance to the complainant, and has written to the company concerned on his behalf. The commission will consider any response before taking further action.”
The company has responded with a video on the their decision.
“We are Christians and our Christianity reaches to every point of our lives, whether that’s at home or in the day-to-day running of the business,” said general manager Daniel McArthur in the clip.
“We thought that this order was at odds with our beliefs, certainly was in contradiction with what the Bible teaches,” he added.
“Although we have found this experience certainly unsettling and disruptive to our day-to-day business, we are certainly convinced that we have made the right decision, and we continue to take the stance that we do take”, said Mr McArthur.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
