Could This Couple Now Be Charged With Religious Discrimination?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9945791/Christian-guesthouse-owners-find-way-to-carry-on-banning-gay-couples.html

[EDDIE51]

So a pair of catholic priests would be ok for a double room then?

[Kromovaracun]

"Is it also illegal to refuse to admit as your guest any couples who are not married? "

If you own a business that is open to the public (which this couple did at the time), then the relationship status of your clients really is none of your concern.

[dave50]

What would happen if they opened the door and refused someone entry without giving a reason? Surely then they can't be accused of discrimination.

[FredPuli43]

Safe there, Dave. Only because the evidence is lacking. The occupier is still allowed to refuse entry to private premises and a guest house, like a pub, is still 'private' for these purposes. We see that in the case of all kinds of places. Doormen regularly refuse entry to people because the people don't look the right type to be admitted. It's when they give a reason like "No gays" or "No blacks" that trouble with the law starts.

[dave50]

If that's the case then Fred, what happens if the person they refuse entry is black, gay, jewish or whatever? Will that person then have grounds for discrimination even though no reason was given?

[sp1814]

dave50

No.

It would be impossible to prove.

[FredPuli43]

No. As long as the reason remains private to the individual and there's no other evidence, it is impossible to show that there was discrimination. Other evidence might be evidence of system; if 100 men of outwardly similar appearance turned up, one at a time, and the proprietor refused 80 who were black and yet admitted the white individuals turning up seconds later, that would be compelling evidence of racial discrimination.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Now that I know what she looks like, it is unlikely that I would even want to stay there ...that woman would curdle the cornflake milk ! ///

/// Let them have their silly Christians and their dull middle class
heterosexuals. ///

/// Ignore people like that and, eventually, they will crawl away. ///

/// I wonder why the gentleman is clean shaven! That's a Biblical no-no isn't it? ///

/// the wife is the one with the tache. ///

It is bigoted, offensive and insulting comments such as these, that does nothing for the gay cause, but makes me want to distance myself from such remarks, as there is just no need for it, regardless of one's views.

[Zeuhl]

Bigoted against ugliness, miserableness and intolerance: there are worse bigotries I think

But it's good to know that aog is concerned to further 'the gay cause'

[mikey4444]

Its always a pleasure to read peoples comments on AB, even the ones of which we may disagree, about all sorts of things and thank "God" that we live in a society that allows us to discuss matters openly.

But the Cornish couple in this case were found guilty, in a court of law, for breaking the anti-discrimination laws. Its as simple as that. They have gone through various appeals and the situation hasn't changed.

No amount of hand wringing, by Christians or anybody else for that matter can change the law. Only Parliament can do that, and until we elect people that feel it is right to protect some people from discrimination and not others, the present law must stand.

Not sure what some ABers find so difficult to grasp about that !

[Ann]

doctorb //huge number of Christians are also homosexual//
Where do you get your evidence of this? Not in my opinion.

[Ann]

Bazile //How many christians are on this site ?//
There are quite a few of us Bazile, but in discussions like this, we are usually in the minority :)

[mikey4444]

Ann...I am not sure what being a Christian or not has to do with this case ?

The couple broke the law. Are we saying that being a Christian gives anybody dispensation to break the law ? Extraordinary !