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THE COUPLE AT the centre of last year’s ‘gay cake’ row have said that they ‘don’t hate anyone’.
Daniel and Amy McArthur (Daniel’s parents being the owners of Belfast-based Ashers Baking Company) are set to go before the Court of Appeal in Belfast this Wednesday to attempt to overturn a decision last year that they had broken political and sexual orientation discrimination laws.
The couple – both of whom are evangelical Christians - were caught up in the controversy after refusing to bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan on it.
After facing the Equality Tribunal in May 2015, the couple were fined £500 (€660).
Speaking about the experience, the couple have said that it strengthened their marriage.
“It was clear from the start that we didn’t hate anyone,” said Daniel.
We weren’t trying to discriminate against anyone. We did what we did because of our Christian beliefs. But yet they wanted to pursue it with everything they had. They wanted to take us to court. They wanted, I think, to try and teach us a lesson or send out a signal.
The pair, who have the backing of the Christian Institute in Northern Ireland, said that they had taken their action over “love of God”.
Speaking about the experience, Amy said that she had found the experience of going to court distressing, but that it had been a “blessing” for their marriage.
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Great documentary. Listen to the cold fact album regularly
Fantastic artist, really didn’t get the appreciation he deserved, highly recommend listening to both his albums, and giving searching for the sugar man a watch one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen…R.I.P.
Great documentary and a hell of a story. It really drives home the difference between the pre-internet era and now. There’s no way a situation like this could happen these days. Even if he was a diehard in terms of staying offline, a friend or family member would have been aware of his success, no matter how far away. It’s amazing to know that he went all those years completely unaware of the influence and affect he had elsewhere. It’s also another tale of how fickle the music business can be. So much luck involved. Timing too. It’s unrecognisable as an industry now but that’s another discussion… R.I.P.
Got to see him live once about 11 years ago. His voice was still incredible.
Thanks for the songs! Great some show years back in Vicar St.
Absolutely loved the album “cold fact” in the 80s. I had it on a blank tape so didn’t really know who it was. Thankfully got to see him play in whelans 2009 (I think). Amazing song writer and human. RIP Sixto
Great story, great documentary, Great Guy. RIP Sugar Man.
His story is so unbelievable, if they scripted it for a movie you would say its to far fetched
RIP sugerman
Aww, man …
And now we are hearing of another great that has died today. Robbie Robertson of The Band. Timeless music. Still have and listen to the vinyl. RIP
Two losses in one day, the great Robbie Robertson also, World has lost 2 unique talents.
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