The Christian¹ owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have won their appeal in the so-called "gay cake" discrimination case.

近日，北爱尔兰一家面包店的基督教老板在所谓的“同性恋蛋糕”歧视案中胜诉。

The UK's highest court ruled that Ashers bakery's refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage was not discriminatory.

英国最高法院裁定，Ashers蛋糕店的店主拒绝制作一个带有支持同性婚姻口号的蛋糕，这并不算是歧视。

The five justices on the Supreme² Court were unanimous in their judgement.

最高法院5位法官全体一致同意达成这个判决。

The high-profile dispute began in 2014 when the bakery refused to make a cake with the slogan "Support Gay Marriage".

这一备受瞩目的争议始于2014年，当时这家面包店拒绝制作一个打着“支持同性婚姻”口号的蛋糕。

The customer, gay rights activist³ Gareth Lee, sued the company for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation⁴ and political beliefs.

于是同性恋权益活动人士加里斯·李控告蛋糕店歧视性取向和政治倾向不同的人士。

But the bakery has always insisted its objection was to the message on the cake, not the customer.

但是蛋糕店指出，争论焦点在于蛋糕上的标语，而不是顾客本身。

Ashers lost the case and the subsequent appeal, but last Wednesday the firm won its appeal at the Supreme Court.

Ashers蛋糕店在此案和随后的上诉中败诉，但该公司上周三在最高法院赢得了上诉。

The legal battle -- which has lasted four-and-a-half years and has cost nearly 500,000 pounds so far -- has raised questions over equality and freedom of conscience.

这一引起有关平等权利和良知自由的争议性司法案件已经缠讼4年半，前后花费近50万英镑。

Ashers bakery's general manager Daniel McArthur said he was delighted and relieved by the ruling.

Ashers蛋糕店店主丹尼尔·麦克阿瑟表示，他对这一裁决感到高兴和欣慰。

"I know a lot of people will be glad to hear this ruling today, because this ruling protects freedom of speech and freedom of conscience for everyone," Mr McArthur said outside the court.

麦克阿瑟在法庭外表示：“我知道很多人今天会很高兴听到这一裁决，因为这个判决确定了每个人都拥有言论自由和良知自由。”