Belfast Bakery Faces Suit Over Refusal To Decorate Cake In Support of Gay Marriage

Mail Online reported yesterday on the latest clash in Britain between Christian business owners and gay rights proponents. Activist Gareth Lee ordered a cake from Christian-run Ashers Baking Company in Belfast.  He wanted the cake decorated with the name of his organization, QueerSpace, two Sesame Street characters and the words "Support Gay Marriage."  A bakery staff member accepted the order, but the owners and manager of the family-run company called Lee, offering a refund and refusing to produce the cake on religious grounds. Lee complained to Northern Ireland's Equality Commission which wrote the bakery saying that the refusal violates the public accommodation non-discrimination provisions (Regulation Five) of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.  The Commission said it would file suit within 7 days of the letter.