Shadow home secretary comment...

[R1Geezer]

Wel should B&B / Hotels have the choice not to have gays stay?

[boxtops]

The discussion on radio 4 this morning was that as B&B establishments tend to be more like people's own homes than hotels, it's OK for B&Bs. I have no feelings either way, it's commerce. How would they know when people book beforehand, they only know when the couples turn up (unless they question people when they book in advance!). Presumably they let single gays book in (how would they know), it's only the double room which gives them the heebie-jeebies.

[Sqad]

I have no objection whatsoever in gays or any other minority group staying in B@B's and hotels.

However, if my B@B was also my home, then I would value the right to choose whom I invited to stay and who to refuse.

[craft1948]

Dodgy one this as they were not refused a room because they were gay, but because they were unmarried. I believe the lady said that allowing unmarried couples to share a room was against her christian beliefs..........I'm sure I will as usual be corrected :-)

[Gromit]

Here is David Cameron speaking with fork tongue...

http://www.youtube.co...ture=player_embedded#

[Snafu03]

no blacks, irish, dogs....or gays

[AlBags]

lol ... bit strong, innit ?!

Personally, I think it's ridiculous to expect everyone to be comfortable about gay partnerships. It follows that one always should have the right to refuse entry in a case like this for the same reasons.
This is not about being anti-gay at all.

[Le Chat]

I, like Boxtops was wondering how they would know. I think it's a bit off if they book, then turn up and are refused a room. I agree that people have the right to decide who they wish to have staying at their B&B but maybe they should state this on their web site. Mind you, they're damned if they do....and then damned when they don't!

[mandimoo]

surely by opening up as a b&b they are sacrificing their 'personal space' in the 'public' areas of the business.

[Zeuhl]

Personally, I have a bit of a queasiness issue regarding sex between obese people; hetero or homo.

Even so, I think it would be wrong and disrespectful for a commercial hostelry; hotel or b&b to turn a couple away.

Unless of course they could prove they were going to break the furniture.

[bendigo]

May be to stay within the law they should advertise that sexual acts are not permitted by guests staying in their premises as obviously what offends is the thought of 2 men having sex under thier roof. They seemingly dont mind heterosexual people having sex there in fact perhaps they enjoy that thought.

[sambro]

i do believe the torys have just lost the gay and lesbian vote LAUGH OUT LOUD!!

[stokemaveric]

well would you have gay sex taking place in YOUR place of residence??? if you lease out a room then you should have a say what goes on in that room,if you dissagree with it and it is against your religious beliefs...then you should be allowed to refuse them to stay...its simple really...an englismans home is his castle..whether he rents out a few rooms or not....

[Panic Button]

If a person offering B&B were allowed to refuse to take in a gay couple, how about if they were to say no muslims?

[Zeuhl]

//.its simple really...an englismans home is his castle..whether he rents out a few rooms or not...///

no it isn't. A commercial premises is bound by laws to protect their customers from unfair or discriminatory behaviour.

Your local Indian restaurant will probably be the property of the guy running it, he may even live upstairs. If he refuses admission to one of your family because he doesn't like white people, would you be fine with that too?

[naomi24]

We recently had a very long discussion here on a similar subject. If, because of their religion, someone refuses to provide the service they're in business to provide, then they shouldn't be in that business. Nobody's religion should encroach upon another human being's life choices and the religious have no right to expect the rest of the world to make allowances for them.

[jackthehat]

If I was searching, on the web, for a B&B and it clearly stated 'No gay couples welcome' I would probably, mentally, snort "neanderthals" and pass on to another establishment.

However, having decided on a guesthouse (with no such caveat) and paid (either a deposit or in full), and turning up only to be barred on arrival because my domestic arrangements offended the hotelier, I'd be both humiliated and furious.............

[jno]

jack, yes, a line in their advertisements saying 'No poofters' or similar might at least cheer you up a bit. Still, as others have pointed out, B&Bs used to have signs saying 'No dogs or Irish'; how acceptable would that be?

It might work, in the eyes of the law, if expressed positively rather than negatively: 'A boarding house for Christians' rather than 'A boarding house against gays', so to speak.

[jackthehat]

I ought to be able to make my mind up NOT to stay somewhere in the same way as some B&B's believe they have a right NOT to accept me.

The difference is that they, at the time of my booking, already know their stance on the matter, whereas I do not..........

Naturally, no-one should be allowed to operate outside current legislation..

[ummmm]

I wonder if they would have taken the same stance had it been two women booking in.