Today, it was announced that the Supreme Court have ruled in favour of a bakery that's refused to bake a cake for a gay couple, on the grounds of 'religious freedom'. But for those of you with a distinct sense of déjà vu, yes this did already happen, but rather than the United States, this took place in the United Kingdom.
While American LGBTQ+ rights activists are still fuming over the outcome of a Supreme Court ruling after a Colorado baker refused to bake a cake for a same-sex couple in 2012, that case seems to be the impetus for a similar ruling across the Atlantic, as the British Supreme Court ruled in favour of Daniel and Amy McArthur against Gareth Lee.
Initially, courts had ruled in favour of Lee, awarding him £500 in damages after the McArthurs - at Belfast-based Ashers Baking Company - refused to bake a cake featuring Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie to mark International Day Against Homophobia. Supreme Court president Lady Hale ruled in favour of the couple, explaining the verdict.
"It is deeply humiliating, and an affront to human dignity, to deny someone a service because of that person's race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or any of the other protected personal characteristics, but that is not what happened in this case."
"Nobody should be forced to have or express a political opinion in which he does not believe," added the court, but Gareth Lee, speaking about the verdict, expressed his concern about the wider-reaching consequences for religious beliefs and gay people.
"I think this has consequences for everyone. Anyone can walk into a shop – you shouldn't have to work out if you're going to be served based on their religious beliefs. I am confused. I'm concerned, not just for the implications for myself or other gay people, but for everyone single one of us. Do we have to guess when we go into a shop whether we're going to be served or not?"
It's a valid point, and one that's been expressed online, as plenty of people have offered their opinion on the potentially game-changing verdict. Among them is none other than Boy George, lead singer of the 80s band Culture Club, who bristled at the idea that this was some part of an LGBT agenda.
Doubling down on this "all cakes are gay" idea, British journalist Patrick Strudwick also made the point that Jesus never appeared to speak out against homosexuality.
From there, many people weighed in on the issue, and they're really not happy with the verdict.
This simple Bert and Ernie cake would have cost £36.50 had Ashers Bakery decided to fulfill Lee's request, but thanks to support from lobby group The Christian Institute to the tune of £200,000, it's proved to be the most expensive cake in British history.
With the current context of LGBT rights in the news right now, it's unlikely we've heard the last of this cake, or the social issues on which it's based on.
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