Belfast bakers lose "gay cake" discrimination appeal

[ukatheist]

Yes, if the basis for refusal is based on a protected characteristic.

Who qualifies as a legally protected class is a political determination. In a free country people are allowed to hold and express controversial, stupid, and offensive positions so long as they do not incite violence, commit fraud,, liable, prompt immediate danger or violate community standards of decency.

Or discriminate against another persons freedoms.

[SteelCurtain]

I don't like this interpretation of the law.

If a shop refuses to serve someone based on their skin color, religion, race, gender/orientation --- that's discrimination. But if they refuse to write a specific message on a cake? That's stretching it. As long as they would still serve the couple, I wouldn't support a fine for not accepting certain messages.

Now---where I draw the line is if the message requested was just two guys' names or something like that---we're back in the discrimination category. If they would have written the same message for a straight wedding, then that's a case where I would say they were breaking a law.

[Cyberman]

I'll put it this way. As Staff, I frequently find myself having to make judgements on the actions of you lot. On a personal level, I cannot agree with every belief or persuasion that everyone holds, but on a professional level I put all that to one side and remain impartial. If I wasn't, if I allowed my own feelings to bias my objectivity, I would be useless in my job and there would be - justifiably - calls for my resignation. Where is the problem in this approach?

The difference is that you have a choice. AF has discretion to set its own editorial guidelines. Other forums may choose to limit discussions to certain topics and/or deem some topics out-of-bounds.

I am still engaged in a position of some authority in which my personal beliefs and opinions ought to be irrelevant in the execution of my appointed duties. If I thought otherwise, I should not nor would I have accepted the position.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Ultimately, liberty rests on the ability to say "no". You are mixing up two completely different notions. The freedom NOT to do something and the "freedom" to MAKE someone else do something.

[Cyberman]

They were still legally ruled as discriminatory, whatever your or my opinion.

[brewer]

Who qualifies as a legally protected class is a political determination. In a free country people are allowed to hold and express controversial, stupid, and offensive positions so long as they do not incite violence, commit fraud,, liable, prompt immediate danger or violate community standards of decency.

Or discriminate against another persons freedoms.

Or deny services.

[brewer]

The devious part of me says "Make the cake and ice it with what ever they want it to say. Just use dwarf script".

[Minimalist]

A state judge in Kentucky on Monday upheld the right of a printing company owned by devout Christians to refuse to produce T-shirts promoting a gay pride festival.

Answers that question.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2016/3/...inate-bill

Kentucky Senate Passes 'License to Discriminate' Bill

[Arkilogue]

The devious part of me says "Make the cake and ice it with what ever they want it to say. Just use dwarf script".

So sued...

[TheRealJoeFish]

... The free market is more than capable of working out the bigots.

I think this is the least true thing that has ever been typed by anyone ever.