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Gay couple hail hotel snub ruling

18th January 2011; (UKPA) – 45 minutes ago

A gay couple have welcomed a court ruling which said Christian hotel owners had acted unlawfully when they refused to let them stay in a double room.

Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy said the decision showed no-one was above the law.

They had taken Peter and Hazelmary Bull to court after they were turned away from the couple's hotel in Cornwall in September 2008 having booked a double room.

In a ruling at Bristol County Court, Judge Andrew Rutherford said the Bulls had acted unlawfully and ordered them to pay the couple £1,800 each in damages and their legal costs.

Mr Hall, 46, and Mr Preddy, 38, from Bristol, made the claim for sexual orientation discrimination under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.

They said: "We're really pleased that the judge has confirmed what we already know - that in these circumstances our civil partnership has the same status in law as a marriage between a man and a woman, and that, regardless of each person's religious beliefs, no-one is above the law."

Mr and Mrs Bull, who run the Chymorvah Private Hotel in Marazion near Penzance, Cornwall, were backed by the Christian Institute. They said they would consider appealing against the decision, which means the case could be heard at the High Court and in Europe.

"We are obviously disappointed with the result. Our double-bed policy was based on our sincere beliefs about marriage, not hostility to anybody," Mrs Bull said. "It was applied equally and consistently to unmarried heterosexual couples and homosexual couples, as the judge accepted.

"We are trying to live and work in accordance with our Christian faith. As a result we have been sued and ordered to pay £3,600. But many Christians have given us gifts, so thanks to them we will be able to pay the damages."

Mrs Bull added: "I do feel that Christianity is being marginalised in Britain. The same laws used against us have been used to shut down faith-based adoption agencies. Much is said about 'equality and diversity' but it seems some people are more equal than others."

Source; The Press Association

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Well done lads.

Now book a two weeks all inclusive holiday in Tehran & ask for a double room!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

and walk along the high street swigging lager from a van wearing a mini-skirt

i was gonna add "whilst having a fag" but maybe not....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Would we be questioning that amount if the hotel had a 'no black' or 'no Jews' policy?

I agree folks are entitled to a religious belief, but they are operating a business.

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IDFIMH

Who's questioning?

They're exclamation marks!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

if they had been black pooftas the compo would have been ten times higher

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Hallelujah brother. You just noticed?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Did they ban Jews for killing jesus ?

FFs.....these people need to get a life and perhaps a good job like being a hermit somewhere where they cant be contacted by anyone at all would do.

ffs

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I thought any Publican or Hotelier had a right to refuse anyone they so wished...


Modern Britain is not by and large homophobic...so, why should we let a minority group force their views and ways on others just because they have the law on their side to the point that it verges on fascism by persecuting the alleged persecutors!



Its the incredibly tolerant Majority that's P*ssed on every time in this country...when did all that happen????? you can see how this plays into the hands of the religious Radicals, Joe Average is getting very hacked off with the abuse and supression of his rights of choice and one day he's going to go bang!!!

I wouldnt actually say these people were the incredibly tolerant Majority, in fact I'd say they were a couple of fruitloops.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Fruitloops turning away fruits...........PMSL

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Thats as Maybe...but should we not allow them the right to chose who can stay under their own hotels roof??? thats as much a right as that they were accused of denying to someone else??

But where do you draw the line?
Ok for a hotel to refuse but not a restaurant or a cab for that matter?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I understand where your coming from, and wonder if the hotel made it known they didnt approve why those people would want to even go there.

However, I suggest the people running the hotel take a look at the bible they preach.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin