Lesbian couple won’t take action over New Zealand baker who refused to make wedding cake
The owner cited religious beliefs as the reason for banning same-sex weddings (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A lesbian couple have said they will not be taking legal action against a baker who refused to make their wedding cake on the basis that it was against her beliefs.
Moe Barr and Sasha Patrick, who live in Brisbane in Australia, have planned to have their wedding in Waipu, New Zealand, next January.
After approaching Kath’s Devine Cakes in Warkworth, New Zealand, they received an email from the owner saying it was against her beliefs and wouldn’t be able to make the cake.
“I do not wish to offend either of you and I thank you for letting me know that it is a same-sex wedding,” the email said.
“Even though as individuals you are both fabulous and amazing people, I must follow the integrity of my heart and beliefs.
“Our government has legalised same sex marriages, but it is not my belief that it is correct, therefore I will not support it and cannot make your wedding cake for you.”
Moe Barr and Sasha Patrick plan to marry in New Zealand in January (supplied)
Although the New Zealand Human Rights Act prohibits against discrimination on the bass of sexual orientation, the couple have said they will not be taking legal action.
Barr said the couple decided to make the email exchange public to warn other same-sex couples to avoid the baker.
“I think it’s important to share because we didn’t want it to happen to someone else, someone who might not have the same amount of support we have,” Barr told PinkNews.
“With marriage equality only being recently legalised (both in NZ and AUS) I think it’s important to show people that discrimination in any form is wrong and should not be tolerated,” she added.
Jack Phillips the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty)
Kath’s Divine Cakes has not responded to requests for comment.
In June, the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of a baker in Colorado who refused to make a cake for a gay couple on the basis that it was against his religion.
The court ruled that the state violated “religious freedom” protections by ordering Masterpiece Cakeshop to cease discriminating against same-sex couples.
Bakery owner Jack Phillips had launched a legal challenge to state anti-discrimination laws after refusing to serve gay couple David Mullins and Charlie Craig.
Pro-LGBT law firm Lambda Legal said in a statement that the ruling invited “discrimination and further efforts to justify withholding service from LGBTQ people.”
“This will encourage all sorts of mischief by well-funded anti-LGBTQ organizations who want to create exceptions to nondiscrimination laws,” they added.
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