article_snippet: Northern Ireland's Equality Commission took the case against family-run Ashers Bakery on behalf a gay rights activist customer whose order was declined.
article_snippet: The Equality Commission, which monitors compliance with equality laws in the region, initially asked for the bakery to acknowledge the bakery had breached legislation and offer 'modest' damages to the customer.
article_snippet: But when Ashers refused, The Equality Commission, which monitors compliance with equality laws in the region proceeded with the legal action.
article_snippet: Mr Allen insisted that Ashers was not an 'explicitly religious' business and referred to an interview Mrs McArthur gave to a newspaper in which Mrs McArthur claimed the majority of Mrs McArthur  
article_snippet: Ashers Bakery, which employs around 80 people, has been backed by the Christian Institute lobby group, which has arranged public meetings and garnered financial backing for the legal action.