In 2014 a Belfast bakery owned by a Christian couple refused to make a cake showing Bert and Ernie with the slogan 'Support Gay Marriage'. The customer, Gareth Lee, a gay man, won in the lower courts, which found discrimination.
The Supreme Court unanimously overturned those rulings. It held that the bakers objected to the message, not to the customer, and that the law cannot compel people to express a message they disagree with.
The case shows rights in conflict: Lee's right not to be discriminated against against the bakers' freedom of religion and expression. The Supreme Court protected the right not to be forced to express a view, showing how judges balance competing rights.
Lee and his supporters argued that the refusal was discrimination, as the two lower courts had found.
The Court stressed that refusing to serve someone because of who they are is still unlawful.
The development has ended or been reversed, but remains useful evidence.
A leading case on competing rights for answers on collective versus individual rights.
Signed off for students.
Origin: AI draft (Claude) · Reviewer: Editor
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