Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has criticised a ruling against a Christian bakery for refusing to bake a pro-gay marriage cake, saying that the ruling “is a defeat for freedom of expression”.
The appeal court judges said that the owners of Ashers Bakery, in Belfast, acted illegally when they refused to bake a cake with the slogan “Support Gay Marriage”.
Belfast’s County Court ruled in May that the bakers had “unlawfully discriminated” against Gareth Lee, a gay man who requested the cake.
The appeal court upheld the original verdict by Belfast’s County Court that the bakery had breached equality legislation and should pay a £500 penalty.
Mr Tatchell said: “This verdict is a defeat for freedom of expression.” He said that although he disagreed with the bakers’ opposition to gay marriage, “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.”Mr Tatchell warned that the ruling set a “dangerous, authoritarian precedent” which could be abused. After the judgment was delivered, Ashers’ general manager Daniel McArthur said: “We’re extremely disappointed with today’s ruling.
“If equality law means people can be punished for politely refusing to support other people’s causes, then equality law needs to change.
“This ruling undermines democratic freedom. It undermines religious freedom. It undermines free speech.”
Bill defending disabled babies clears second hurdle
A bill which seeks to stop discrimination against disabled babies in the womb has passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords and will now proceed to the next legislative stage.If successful, Lord Shinkwin’s Abortion (Disability Equality) Bill will remove section 1(1)(d) from the 1967 Abortion Act, which allows for abortion on the grounds of disability up to birth.
In Britain, disability-selective abortions are currently available right up to the moment of birth, whereas in most cases, “healthy” babies cannot be aborted beyond 24 weeks.
During the debate, Lord Shinkwin said: “Either we believe in equality or we do not. No one can be more equal than others.”
Lord Shinkwin emphasised that the debate was not about the ethics of abortion but about bringing the abortion law into line with the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act.
There were 230 late-term disability-selective abortions (between 24 weeks and birth) in 2015 – a 271 per cent increase since 1995. In 2014 the number of terminations for Down’s syndrome increased by more than 10 per cent in 12 months.
Anglicans donate to Catholics
Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral has shown solidarity with Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral by donating money from its collection boxes to its Catholic neighbour following a break-in on October 6.Dean Pete Wilcox from the Anglican cathedral, which donated £910.82, said: “Having suffered a very similar experience ourselves a few months ago, we were keen to show our solidarity.”
