NationStates

The owners of a hotel who refused to allow a gay couple a double room acted unlawfully, a judge has ruled.

Peter and Hazelmary Bull, of the Chymorvah Hotel, near Penzance, said as Christians they did not believe unmarried couples should share a room.

Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy, from Bristol, said the incident in September 2008 was "direct discrimination" against them.

They were awarded £1,800 each in damages at Bristol County Court.

Full Article

Now, whilst businesses do have a right to refuse service, I think the Judge has made a brilliant decision in this case. Here, we've got a business refusing service on the grounds of sexuality, which is just plain wrong.

In fact, if the Judge had made any other decision, it would've been an invitation to any bigoted business owners to discriminate against entire demographics.

Your thoughts, NSG?

Such a backwards legal system...

The Bleeding Roses wrote:Such a backwards legal system...

I agree. The fact that this had to go to court at all is a travesty.

Still, good on the judge for making the right call.

Good move by the judge.

The Bleeding Roses wrote:Such a backwards legal system...

Because it didn't sentence the two defendants to be stoned for Sodomy, ammirite?

I'm a bit torn on this one.

How can it be discrimination if they turn away couples, straight or gay, for not being married?

North Suran wrote:Because it didn't sentence the two defendants to be stoned for Sodomy, ammirite?

Hey, as long as it's the right kind of stoned, amirite?

Protip: if having people you are unable to tolerate stay in your home is such a problem for you then don't run a bloody BnB.

Fartsniffage wrote:I'm a bit torn on this one.

How can it be discrimination if they turn away couples, straight or gay, for not being married?

Then again, because of christians like these ones, gay people can't get married at all.

The Bleeding Roses wrote:Such a backwards legal system...

Quite, next thing you know the darkies will want to eat pie at the counter.

Fartsniffage wrote:I'm a bit torn on this one.

How can it be discrimination if they turn away couples, straight or gay, for not being married?

Even if was not because it was a homosexual couple (which I find unlikely), it's still discrimination against couples in general.

North Suran wrote:

The Bleeding Roses wrote:Such a backwards legal system...

Because it didn't sentence the two defendants to be stoned for Sodomy, ammirite?

This is purely a property rights issue seeing as the UK isn't a secular state...

I will always side with owners rather than takers.

I'd be content if we just had a law requiring any business that discriminates against gays to post a large sign that reads, "[BUSINESS OWNER'S FULL NAME] WILL NOT SERVE FAGGOTS." Put the bigotry out in the open and be clear about it. I want to know who these people are so that I can make sure never to accidentally spend money at their business. Plus, it will be nice to have photos taken of those signs, so that history can record the specific names of these people for posterity...should be nice when they show up in history books in 50 years, as examples of the bigotry of this era.

Fartsniffage wrote:I'm a bit torn on this one.

How can it be discrimination if they turn away couples, straight or gay, for not being married?

The gay couple are married.

North Suran wrote:Even if was not because it was a homosexual couple (which I find unlikely), it's still discrimination against couples in general.

Are couples protected under any anti-discrimination laws?

Cosmopoles wrote:The gay couple are married.

Well that's something the news has been leaving out.

Fuck this couple then.

It looks like the B&B has a huge bill to foot not just for discrimination but also for wasting the court's time.

The Bleeding Roses wrote:

North Suran wrote:Because it didn't sentence the two defendants to be stoned for Sodomy, ammirite?

This is purely a property rights issue seeing as the UK isn't a secular state...

I will always side with owners rather than takers. paying customers.

Fixed.

Fartsniffage wrote:

Cosmopoles wrote:The gay couple are married.

Well that's something the news has been leaving out.

Fuck this couple then.

It's in the article. It even mentions the judgement means that civil partnerships are legally the same as marriage.
It's a shame that it's still called civil partnership, but it's better than nothing

Dakini wrote:

The Bleeding Roses wrote:This is purely a property rights issue seeing as the UK isn't a secular state...

I will always side with owners rather than takers. paying customers.

Fixed.

Not fixed seeing as these dipshits weren't customers yet...

Nice try!

It's not clear why they're allowed to discriminate against non-married couples in general though.

Just because not everyone is stupid enough to jump right into a lifelong commitment doesn't mean they don't want to take vacations together.

The Bleeding Roses wrote:

North Suran wrote:Because it didn't sentence the two defendants to be stoned for Sodomy, ammirite?

This is purely a property rights issue seeing as the UK isn't a secular state...

I think you mean is a secular state.

The Bleeding Roses wrote:I will always side with owners rather than takers.

I can see why you chose to become a lawyer.

Unchecked Expansion wrote:It's in the article. It even mentions the judgement means that civil partnerships are legally the same as marriage.
It's a shame that it's still called civil partnership, but it's better than nothing

Why would I read the article? It's been on the news all day.

North Suran wrote:

The Bleeding Roses wrote:This is purely a property rights issue seeing as the UK isn't a secular state...

I think you mean is a secular state.

Church of England ring a bell?

Fartsniffage wrote:

Unchecked Expansion wrote:It's in the article. It even mentions the judgement means that civil partnerships are legally the same as marriage.
It's a shame that it's still called civil partnership, but it's better than nothing

Why would I read the article? It's been on the news all day.

I get my news from stumble and here mostly.