The ruling brings the seven-year legal battle to a close
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has dismissed an appeal over a bakery’s refusal to bake a cake that featured a slogan in support of gay marriage, on the grounds the case was inadmissible as the claimant failed to exhaust domestic remedies.
In May 2014, gay activist Gareth Lee placed an order with Ashers Bakery in Belfast for a cake to feature the image of Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie, the QueerSpace logo and the slogan “Support Gay Marriage”.
Two days later, the bakery cancelled the order on the basis the cake’s message contravened the bakery owners’ Christian beliefs.
Lee contacted the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, which sought £500 compensation from...
