Patrick Stewart Says He Supports Bakery That Refused To Make "Gay Marriage" Cake
Sir Patrick Stewart has been an outspoken ally of the LGBT community, and an all-around mensch.
So when the Star Trek star said he supported a North Ireland bakery that refused to make a cake with the words "support gay marriage" on it, we decided to hear him out.
After refusing to write "support gay marriage" in icing on a cake with a picture of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie, Ashers Bakery of Belfast was accused of discrimination.
The bakery's owners were found guilty and fined £500 (about $760).
General manager Daniel McArthur said he didn't want "to be forced to promote a cause which is against our biblical beliefs," and says pro-LGBT people have come to his defense.
"They think that we should have the freedom to decline an order that conflicts with our conscience."
Talking to NewsNight, Stewart said he was one of those supporters.
"It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected, it was not because they were celebrating some sort of marriage or an agreement between them," he explained.
"It was the actual words on the cake they objected to. Because they found the words offensive. I would support their rights to say no, this is personally offensive to my beliefs, I will not do it."
Later on Facebook, Stewart clarified, "this particular matter was not about discrimination, but rather personal freedoms and what constitutes them, including the freedom to object."
He added, "Both equality and freedom of speech are fundamental rights— and this case underscores how we need to ensure one isn’t compromised in the pursuit of the other."
The actor, next appearing on Starz's Blunt Talk, made it clear he wasn't "anti-equality or that [he shares] the beliefs of the bakers."
Not that we didn't already know that.
Do you think Sir Patrick has a point? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
