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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Gay rights laws challenge fails | Gay rights laws challenge fails |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| New rules outlawing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals have been upheld in the House of Lords. | New rules outlawing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals have been upheld in the House of Lords. |
| A challenge led by Lord Morrow of the Democratic Unionist Party failed by a margin of three to one. | |
| He had argued that the rules forced people to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state. | He had argued that the rules forced people to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state. |
| But Northern Ireland Minister Lord Rooker said it would be "quite wrong" to elevate the rights of one group above those of another. | But Northern Ireland Minister Lord Rooker said it would be "quite wrong" to elevate the rights of one group above those of another. |
| Demonstration | Demonstration |
| Lord Morrow's call to annul the regulations, which have applied in Northern Ireland since 1 January and are due to be implemented across the UK by April, was defeated by 199 votes to 68. | Lord Morrow's call to annul the regulations, which have applied in Northern Ireland since 1 January and are due to be implemented across the UK by April, was defeated by 199 votes to 68. |
| The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith. | The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith. |
| Christians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas CordreyLawyer's Christian Fellowship Head-to-head: gay rights Have your say | Christians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas CordreyLawyer's Christian Fellowship Head-to-head: gay rights Have your say |
| Hundreds of Christians demonstrated outside Parliament, but gay rights groups say no mainstream religious groups supported the protest. | Hundreds of Christians demonstrated outside Parliament, but gay rights groups say no mainstream religious groups supported the protest. |
| Critics say the new rules mean hotels cannot refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for "gay wedding" receptions. | Critics say the new rules mean hotels cannot refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for "gay wedding" receptions. |
| They also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership. | They also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership. |
| Tory peers were allowed a free vote but the Liberal Democrats supported the government, whose Labour supporters were whipped to attend and vote. | Tory peers were allowed a free vote but the Liberal Democrats supported the government, whose Labour supporters were whipped to attend and vote. |
| 'Obedience' | 'Obedience' |
| Lord Morrow told peers: "The regulations make it possible for homosexual activists to sue people who disagree with a homosexual lifestyle because of their religious beliefs. | Lord Morrow told peers: "The regulations make it possible for homosexual activists to sue people who disagree with a homosexual lifestyle because of their religious beliefs. |
| "They require religious organisations to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state." | "They require religious organisations to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state." |
| He added: "The regulations threaten to override the conscience and free speech of Christians and others who object to homosexual practice." | He added: "The regulations threaten to override the conscience and free speech of Christians and others who object to homosexual practice." |
| Conservative Lord Tebbit said: "Black is about being. Sexual orientation is about being. | Conservative Lord Tebbit said: "Black is about being. Sexual orientation is about being. |
| "And we would not wish to discriminate against people for being black nor on grounds of their sexual orientation. | "And we would not wish to discriminate against people for being black nor on grounds of their sexual orientation. |
| "The concerns which are being expressed this evening are primarily about sodomy rather than about sexual orientation - that is doing, not being." | "The concerns which are being expressed this evening are primarily about sodomy rather than about sexual orientation - that is doing, not being." |
| But Labour's Lord Smith said: "I am somewhat puzzled by the arguments that have been advanced. | But Labour's Lord Smith said: "I am somewhat puzzled by the arguments that have been advanced. |
| "It seems to me, in my simplistic way, that what they (the opponents of the regulations) are arguing for is quite simply the right to discriminate and the right to harass. | "It seems to me, in my simplistic way, that what they (the opponents of the regulations) are arguing for is quite simply the right to discriminate and the right to harass. |
| "And those arguments are being made in the name of Christianity." | "And those arguments are being made in the name of Christianity." |
| 'Fence in behaviour' | 'Fence in behaviour' |
| One of those taking part in the demonstration outside Parliament, Ralph Brockman, a Baptist from London, told the BBC: "I'm concerned that the Biblical laws should be upheld. | One of those taking part in the demonstration outside Parliament, Ralph Brockman, a Baptist from London, told the BBC: "I'm concerned that the Biblical laws should be upheld. |
| "People may have different orientations but we need to have laws that will fence in our behaviour, as it were." | "People may have different orientations but we need to have laws that will fence in our behaviour, as it were." |
| John Studley, a Christian from London, said: "This government is placing sexual rights over religious rights." | John Studley, a Christian from London, said: "This government is placing sexual rights over religious rights." |
| But Neil Partridge, a gay Christian man, said: "Everyone has a right to their faith but is it fair to say to someone 'you can't share a bed in our hotel because you are gay'. | But Neil Partridge, a gay Christian man, said: "Everyone has a right to their faith but is it fair to say to someone 'you can't share a bed in our hotel because you are gay'. |
| "A hotel is a business, surely. I just think some of the people at this demonstration need to listen to the other side of the argument." | "A hotel is a business, surely. I just think some of the people at this demonstration need to listen to the other side of the argument." |
| He added: "Recently British Airways was criticised for not allowing staff to wear crucifixes and now some Christians are advocating this policy. I think the recent law is a good thing." | He added: "Recently British Airways was criticised for not allowing staff to wear crucifixes and now some Christians are advocating this policy. I think the recent law is a good thing." |
| Supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998. | Supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998. |
| A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March. | A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March. |