Dear Rhrosty,

You are straying way off the topic:

[off-topic]

<<If it wasn't in God's plan, then why did God make Gays?>>

God did not create gays - homosexuality is old, but being gay is a very recent phenomenon. In fact, most homosexuals are not gays.

<<Nobody but nobody chooses to be born different!>>

Oh you bet! Many people choose to be born in so many different ways. Others choose to become different later in life.

<<some of which ends in sad and lonely suicide!>>

Most of those who over-emphasise and centre their lives around sex, end up this way.

[end of off-topic section]

The actual topic is the freedom of individuals to trade with those they want and not with others they don't wish to trade with - their reasons and/or justifications, if any, are completely irrelevant.

<<And Gay bashing takes many forms from the straight out assault,to withholding essential service, or your best effort?>>

I strongly believe that there is nobody here who agrees with assaults, on anyone.

Cakes with a label are not an essential service and even essential services can be provided by others who do so willingly. Nobody owes it to you.

Yuyutsu,

Your post above is very elegant and the sentiments expressed will find no argument with me.

This sentence in particular, I found especially good - "Therefore all should have the benefit of the doubt and be free not to do anything they don't agree to do, for whatever reason or even for no stated reason."

Alas, freedom is not for us today in our sectarian socialist state.

Good stuff.

As the author said,
"....that Ashers is a business, not a religious organisation, and should behave accordingly. But would we demand that a Jewish baker make a cake depicting a swastika? Or that a Muslim baker make a cake depicting Muhammad? Tedious as such comparisons are, they can serve to isolate a principle or two, and those who supported Lee’s case against Ashers should consider whether they’d be doing the same if he’d ordered a cake reading ‘Defend Straight Marriage’"

or an ultra Republican had ordered one with "God Damn the Queen"

"In fact, most homosexuals are not gays." What?

they broke the law, it simple. Would we allow a doctor to not provide blood transfusions because it was against his religious beliefs?

I am not surprised that several posters just don’t get the point. The Ashers were not fined for refusing to serve a gay man. They were fined for refusing to express an opinion in favour of same-sex marriage. Their freedom of speech was infringed. So in Northern Ireland, it is now illegal to refuse to express support for same-sex marriage when called upon to do so, even though it is a jurisdiction which does not even have same-sex marriage. It matters not one jot whether the view is to be iced on cake or printed in a pamphlet. If a person, gay or straight, demands that you express support for same-sex marriage via your relevant business and you refuse, will you be fined £500. It will be interesting to see if the reverse occurs.

I am in favour of same-sex marriage, but I think it unfair to fine the bakers for refusing to make the cake with the requested sentiment.

Since I don't know the wording of the law in the case I can't say that it wasn't in accordance with the law to fine the baker. However, law isn't always fair.