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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Registrar wins same-sex tribunal | Registrar wins same-sex tribunal |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A marriage registrar was harassed for refusing to conduct same-sex ceremonies, a tribunal has ruled. | |
| Lillian Ladele who said the civil partnership ceremonies went against her Christian faith hailed the decision as a "victory for religious liberty". | Lillian Ladele who said the civil partnership ceremonies went against her Christian faith hailed the decision as a "victory for religious liberty". |
| The tribunal ruled that Miss Ladele was discriminated against on grounds of religious beliefs and was harassed. | The tribunal ruled that Miss Ladele was discriminated against on grounds of religious beliefs and was harassed. |
| Islington council said it was "disappointed" and was considering an appeal against the ruling. | Islington council said it was "disappointed" and was considering an appeal against the ruling. |
| 'Wider implications' | 'Wider implications' |
| Until December 2007 registrars in Islington effectively worked on a freelance basis and could swap with each other to avoid same-sex ceremonies. | Until December 2007 registrars in Islington effectively worked on a freelance basis and could swap with each other to avoid same-sex ceremonies. |
| But since then they have been under direct control of the local authority which, it is claimed, has led to far less flexibility about the registrars' responsibilities. | But since then they have been under direct control of the local authority which, it is claimed, has led to far less flexibility about the registrars' responsibilities. |
| Miss Ladele said she was being effectively forced to choose between her religion and her £31,000-a-year job as a result. | Miss Ladele said she was being effectively forced to choose between her religion and her £31,000-a-year job as a result. |
| Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully and harass people over their religious beliefs Lillian Ladele | Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully and harass people over their religious beliefs Lillian Ladele |
| She said she was picked on, shunned and accused of being homophobic for refusing to carry out civil partnerships. | She said she was picked on, shunned and accused of being homophobic for refusing to carry out civil partnerships. |
| Miss Ladele said: "I am delighted at this decision. | Miss Ladele said: "I am delighted at this decision. |
| "It is a victory for religious liberty, not just for myself but for others in a similar position to mine. | "It is a victory for religious liberty, not just for myself but for others in a similar position to mine. |
| "Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully and harass people over their religious beliefs," she said. | "Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully and harass people over their religious beliefs," she said. |
| Councillor John Gilbert, Islington Council's Executive Member for Human Resources, said: "We're clearly disappointed with the result, as we consider our approach was the right one. | Councillor John Gilbert, Islington Council's Executive Member for Human Resources, said: "We're clearly disappointed with the result, as we consider our approach was the right one. |
| "We are now considering the judgment carefully in order to decide whether we should appeal. | "We are now considering the judgment carefully in order to decide whether we should appeal. |
| "The wider issue of whether councils should be able to expect employees to carry out civil partnerships doesn't seem to have been fully addressed." | "The wider issue of whether councils should be able to expect employees to carry out civil partnerships doesn't seem to have been fully addressed." |
| He added the ruling could have "wider implications" for local authorities. | He added the ruling could have "wider implications" for local authorities. |