Baker refuses wedding cake for lesbian couple
A same-sex couple are ‘‘shocked and upset’’ their request for a wedding cake was refused by a 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 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.’’
‘‘We were really surprised to get that email,’’ Patrick said.
‘‘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 a response like that these days.’’
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 June, the United States Supreme Court sided with a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding back in 2012, although justices avoided a wider ruling on religious exemptions for businesses.
The justices found an earlier ruling against Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips violated his rights under the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of expression.
Under New Zealand’s Human Rights Act 1993 it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation but international treaties uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief.