That Northern Irish Ashers Baking Company has been found to have discriminated by refusing to make a marriage equality cake brings up some interesting issues. (your report May 20th)
It could be argued that a private company should not be forced to take on any customers it doesn’t want. What if a para-military group had asked for a cake?
However the judge seemed to draw a distinction between political ideas and the protection the law rightly provides against discrimination because of who you are. Equality is not someone’s personal idea, it is a basic human right.
Religious belief has no special privilege to break the law.
Neil Barber
Edinburgh Secular Society
http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/letters/equal-baking-1-3778843
