I can see both sides in this, I would have no problem if it was for a wedding cake but because I was a political statement I don’t know…
What do you think?
Patrick Stewart Defends Northern Irish Bakery That Rejected 'Support Gay Marriage' CakeI tend to go with Stewart, it was a political statement, and just because the topic was marriage equality it still was a political statement. If it was for a couple who was getting married rather than a political statement I would feel different, but accord to another Huffington Post article it was for,
The Huffington Post
By Curtis M. Wong
Posted: 06/05/2015
"Star Trek" icon Patrick Stewart has come to the defense of Northern Ireland's Ashers Bakery, which was found guilty of discrimination last month after refusing to prepare a cake decorated with a same-sex marriage slogan.
The case made headlines in 2014 after Belfast-based activist Gareth Lee requested a cake featuring "Sesame Street" characters, along with the message, "Support Gay Marriage." Although the bakery's owners initially accepted the order, they called two days later to cancel it, citing their religious beliefs.
In response, Stewart called the Ashers case "a deliciously difficult" subject in an interview with BBC's Newsnight, adding that he "found himself on the side of the bakers" because nobody should be forced to write politically-relevant text that they didn't support.
"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," Stewart is quoted as saying. "It was the actual words on the cake that they objected to, because they found them offensive."
As the BBC is reporting, Ashers Baking Company declined an order from a member of the Belfast-based Queerspace group, which asked for a cake featuring "Sesame Street" characters Bert and Ernie, along with the slogan, "Support Gay Marriage."I can see both sides, I think that I am leaning toward giving the bakery because this is a little more complicated than just marriage equality.
What do you think?
I am torn as well -
ReplyDeleteNo one should be forced to write words they don't believe as a rule. Yet, they are in a public business, one which is required to serve all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, etc. - whose normal function is to inscribe a cake (using icing) with a phrase of the purchaser's choice.
Should we ask a Jew to write a phrase supporting Hitler? I can see the parallel with this and the inscription of the phrase "Support Gay Marriage". Yet, being in a public business, I think the proprietors open themselves up to writing texts they don't support.
So I have nothing against Patrick Stewart being on the opposite side of the argument than I am - there is a legitimate tension between the rights of the store owner and the person buying goods from the store, a tension that will never be resolved until one person (or the other) is out of the equation. (Automated icing machines?)
M
I think in this particular case that Patrick could not be further from the truth. If you don't want to not write ANYTHING non-pornographic you should close...
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