– May 9 2014 – Gareth Lee, a member of the Queerspace gay rights advocacy group, places an order at Ashers Baking Company on Belfast’s Royal Avenue for a cake to be decorated with the slogan Support Gay Marriage alongside the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie. The order is accepted by Karen McArthur and payment of £36.50 is made in full.
– May 11 2014 – Mr Lee is telephoned and informed that the order cannot be completed. Mr Lee is offered a full refund.
– June 26 2014 – Northern Ireland Equality Commission writes to Ashers requesting that modest compensation be paid.
– July 7 2014 – The Christian Institute announces it will back Ashers after the company declines to settle the case.
– July 8 2014 – Alliance Party councillor Andrew Muir expresses public support for the Equality Commission bringing the case. The cake was to be produced for an event which Mr Muir was hosting during his time as mayor of North Down.
– October 24 2014 – Equality Commission writes again to Ashers and puts the bakery officially “on notice” of impending court action.
– November 13 2014 – DUP MPs William McCrea, Nigel Dodds and Sammy Wilson launch a petition in support of Ashers Bakery.
– December 8 2014 – DUP MLA Paul Givan launches a private members’ bill in the Assembly calling for the introduction of a “conscience clause” into equality legislation.
– March 13 2015 – Democratic…
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