Patrick Stewart Defends Ashers Bakery

patrick stewart ashers bakery
Patrick Stewart holds hands with his best friend, Ian McKellen at the iconic gay landmark The Stonewall Inn in NYC.
Patrick Stewart holds hands with his best friend, Ian McKellen at the iconic gay landmark The Stonewall Inn in NYC.

In a strange turn of events, Patrick Stewart has said that he supports Ashers Bakery in their decision not to make a gay themed cake.

 

Actor, LGBT rights supporter and best mate of Gandalf, Patrick Stewart, has revealed that he is in favour of Ashers Bakery which was last month found guilty of discrimination for refusing to write ‘support gay marriage’ on a cake.

Last July, Ashers Bakery refused the business of gay rights activist Gareth Lee. Lee had requested a cake with the image of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street with the words ‘Support Gay Marriage’ written on it.

In turn, last month, the Northern Irish bakery was found guilty of discrimination based on sexual orientation and political or religious grounds.

Speaking to Evan Davis on BBC’s Newsnight last night, the famed actor, and friend of almighty gay Sir Ian McKellen, discussed the ‘gay cake’ row.

Stewart said it was a “deliciously difficult subject”, before saying, “Finally I found myself on the side of the bakers.”

Um, what?

Continuing, he said: “It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected, it was not because they were celebrating some sort of marriage or an agreement between them. It was the actual words on the cake they objected to. Because they found the words offensive.”

One of Ashers Bakeries accepted the order for the cake but subsequently declined the order on the basis that it was against its Christian beliefs.

“And I would support their rights to say no, this is personally offensive to my beliefs, I will not do it. But I feel bad that it cost them £600 or whatever…”

The court ruled that Ashers Bakery was to pay Gareth Lee £500 in compensation, however, they have now decided to appeal the ruling.

“After much careful and prayerful consideration given to legal advice, we have decided to appeal the judgment handed down,” the McArthurs said in a statement.

© 2015 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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