Baker refuses to make wedding cake for couple
A same-sex couple is ‘‘shocked and upset’’ that their request for a wedding cake was refused by a Northland baker who said marriage equality was against her beliefs.
Moe Barr and Sasha Patrick both live in Brisbane, but since Australia had not yet legalised same-sex marriage when they got engaged last year, they planned their wedding at Waipu in Northland for next January.
When they approached Kath’s Devine Cakes in Warkworth to make the cake, ‘‘Kath’’ refused, saying despite the New Zealand Government legalising same-sex marriage, she believed it was not correct and therefore she would not make the wedding 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 samesex 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.’’
Patrick said: ‘‘We were really surprised to get that email. We’ve been really open about the fact that it’s a same-sex wedding and had absolutely no problems with any of the other vendors. You just don’t expect to get a response like that these days.’’
Kath, from Kath’s Devine Cakes, has not responded to Stuff’s requests for comment.
Barr, who is from Canada, and Patrick, who was born in New Zealand, have friends and relatives flying in from all over the world to attend their big day next summer.
‘‘We’re glad we found out at this point because it could have really affected our plans if it had happened closer to the wedding,’’ Patrick said. ‘‘But ever since we shared the email on Facebook we’ve had other offers to make the cake which we’ll look in to.’’
In New Zealand, the Human Rights Act 1993 states that it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation.