Christian guesthouse owners lose discrimination appeal after banning gay Bristol couple
Christian guest house owners who refused to allow a gay couple from Bristol to share a room have today lost an appeal over a decision that they discriminated against the two men.
Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who run Chymorvah House in Marazion, Cornwall, had claimed they were entitled to hold "outdated" religious beliefs after turning away Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy in September 2008.
-
Peter and Hazelmary Bull outside Chymorvah House in Marazion, Cornwall.
Mr Bull, 72, and Mrs Bull, who is in her late 60s, argued that their policy of restricting double beds to married couples, in accordance with their religious beliefs, was not directed to sexual orientation, but sexual practice.
However, three Court of Appeal judges have upheld the ruling at Bristol County Court in January last year that the Bulls directly discriminated against the couple on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Dismissing their appeal, Lady Justice Rafferty said a homosexual couple "cannot comply with the restriction because each party is of the same sex and therefore cannot marry".
She said: "The criterion at the heart of the restriction, that the couple should be married, is necessarily linked to the characteristic of an heterosexual orientation."
Mr Preddy and Mr Hall have been awarded a total of £3,600 damages.
54 Comments
View all
by SpinyHedgehog
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 2:29PM
“I've got an idea. Anyone thinking of posting should read the previous 50-odd comments and ask themseves "Am I really adding something new?".”
by SueDNeem
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 2:19PM
“I can't believe the comments condemning the Bulls. If they don't want gays in their b&b, then they should be allowed to refuse to serve them.
In exactly the same way as- if they don't want to accommodate blacks, or other ethnic minorities, they should be allowed to refuse them. By putting a "NO BLACKS" sign in their window. Just like in the good old days.”
by spyinthecamp
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 12:38AM
“As Christians we belive the Bible with all our heart and would even die for it. Romans 1 verse 24 to 28 may help you understand. H”
by KNIGEL
Monday, February 13 2012, 7:40PM
“Everyone should have morals but to following to the letter Bible text written over 2,000 years ago by MEN.....”
by oldie60
Monday, February 13 2012, 5:50PM
“@ Morrissey9,
you are begining to become a tad boring.”
by Morrissey9
Monday, February 13 2012, 5:04PM
“I think the idea that two men sharing a bed automatically leads to homosexual acts under their roof says a lot about the Bull's minds to be honest. It is worth noting if a guesthouse run by Muslims did the same as the Bulls, they would face exactly the same punishment. If anything, they would no popular support at all ("how dare they come over here and tell US native brits we can't hire a room, deport them!" etc etc) - this is all speaking in hypothetical admittedly...”
by spyinthecamp
Monday, February 13 2012, 5:03PM
“I am a Christian and I do have some friends that are gay and I love them to bits. As I said there is so much more to a person than than being gay, hetrosexual, whatever. I as a Christian would welcome in all ways but I could and would not let them sleep together in my house and it had nothing to so with hate, quite the opposite. I fear foe Choetians as our beliefs are so strong that we would face prison first, as we believe we would breach Gods law and that is our right.”
by spyinthecamp
Monday, February 13 2012, 4:44PM
“If the Bulls owned a shoe shop they would welcome these guys. Its not hatred of them as people. They offered them to stay there but in single rooms. The predudice as you call it from the Bulls is not against homosexuals it is against the act of homosexuality which is against their beliefs. Why do we have to allow Muslims to be Muslims and Chritians not to be Christians in the UK.”
by SpinyHedgehog
Monday, February 13 2012, 4:27PM
“@joning
"Both sets of couples are as repugnant and ignorant as each other."
Which is exactly what I said in my first post, although marginally more politely...”
by SpinyHedgehog
Monday, February 13 2012, 4:09PM
“@oldie60
"@ Morrissey9, I recon you and hedgehog suit each other."
No, oldie. Apart from anything else, Morrissey9 snores ;-)
Marginally more seriously, we both know how to argue rather than trading insults, a minority skill on this site.”