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B&B owner who turned away gay couple loses appeal B&B owner who turned away gay couple loses appeal
(2 months later)
The Christian owner of a bed and breakfast has lost her appeal against a ruling that she unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple when she refused to let them stay in a double room.The Christian owner of a bed and breakfast has lost her appeal against a ruling that she unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple when she refused to let them stay in a double room.
Susanne Wilkinson declined to let Michael Black, 64, and partner John Morgan, 59, have the room at the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Cookham, Berkshire, in March 2010.Susanne Wilkinson declined to let Michael Black, 64, and partner John Morgan, 59, have the room at the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Cookham, Berkshire, in March 2010.
A judge at Reading county court heard that the couple, from Brampton in Cambridgeshire, who had made a reservation and paid a deposit, protested at their treatment but Wilkinson made it clear that it was against her religious convictions to allow two men to share a bed.A judge at Reading county court heard that the couple, from Brampton in Cambridgeshire, who had made a reservation and paid a deposit, protested at their treatment but Wilkinson made it clear that it was against her religious convictions to allow two men to share a bed.
At the court of appeal in London on Tuesday, the master of the rolls, Lord Dyson, Lady Justice Arden and Lord Justice McCombe dismissed Wilkinson's challenge but gave her permission to appeal to the supreme court.At the court of appeal in London on Tuesday, the master of the rolls, Lord Dyson, Lady Justice Arden and Lord Justice McCombe dismissed Wilkinson's challenge but gave her permission to appeal to the supreme court.
That appeal, on 9 October, will be heard at the same time as that of Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who refused to let Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy share a bedroom at their seaside guesthouse in Cornwall.That appeal, on 9 October, will be heard at the same time as that of Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who refused to let Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy share a bedroom at their seaside guesthouse in Cornwall.
Dyson said Wilkinson's policy, so far as practicable, was to restrict the use of her double rooms to married heterosexual couples. She never allowed couples of the same sex to share a double room and never knowingly allowed an unmarried heterosexual couple to do so either.Dyson said Wilkinson's policy, so far as practicable, was to restrict the use of her double rooms to married heterosexual couples. She never allowed couples of the same sex to share a double room and never knowingly allowed an unmarried heterosexual couple to do so either.
In her evidence, Wilkinson – who was not in court – said she tried to live her life and carry out her work in accordance with her deeply held beliefs. The business, which had been operating since 2007, provided a special degree of care and attention to guests, who were invited into her home and treated as members of the family.In her evidence, Wilkinson – who was not in court – said she tried to live her life and carry out her work in accordance with her deeply held beliefs. The business, which had been operating since 2007, provided a special degree of care and attention to guests, who were invited into her home and treated as members of the family.
The mother-of-four said: "Because I am a Christian, I believe that monogamous heterosexual marriage is the form of partnership uniquely intended for sexual relations between persons and that homosexual relations – as opposed to homosexual orientation – and heterosexual relations outside marriage are wrong."The mother-of-four said: "Because I am a Christian, I believe that monogamous heterosexual marriage is the form of partnership uniquely intended for sexual relations between persons and that homosexual relations – as opposed to homosexual orientation – and heterosexual relations outside marriage are wrong."
She said she had turned away several unmarried heterosexual couples from the outset where it was obvious that they were unmarried from the fact that they only wanted to use the room during the day for sex. She had also made it very clear to members of her own family and friends that she would not allow them to share a double room with their partner if they were not married.She said she had turned away several unmarried heterosexual couples from the outset where it was obvious that they were unmarried from the fact that they only wanted to use the room during the day for sex. She had also made it very clear to members of her own family and friends that she would not allow them to share a double room with their partner if they were not married.
When she met Black, an exams consultant and writer, and Morgan, a computer consultant, she refunded their deposit and they left. She would have been content to let them take separate rooms if any had been available.When she met Black, an exams consultant and writer, and Morgan, a computer consultant, she refunded their deposit and they left. She would have been content to let them take separate rooms if any had been available.
Dyson concluded that the decision in the Preddy case, where the court decided there was direct discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, compelled the conclusion that, by her policy of offering double rooms only to married couples, Wilkinson directly discriminated against homosexual couples on the grounds of their sexual orientation.Dyson concluded that the decision in the Preddy case, where the court decided there was direct discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, compelled the conclusion that, by her policy of offering double rooms only to married couples, Wilkinson directly discriminated against homosexual couples on the grounds of their sexual orientation.
She also indirectly discriminated against homosexual couples on the grounds of their sexual orientation by applying a policy which put them at a disadvantage as compared with heterosexual couples and she could not reasonably justify by reference to matters other than their sexual orientation.She also indirectly discriminated against homosexual couples on the grounds of their sexual orientation by applying a policy which put them at a disadvantage as compared with heterosexual couples and she could not reasonably justify by reference to matters other than their sexual orientation.
James Welch, legal director of the campaign group Liberty, said: "Hopefully today's ruling will mark the end of out-of-date 'no gays' policies which are as intolerable as those referring to a person's race, gender or religion.James Welch, legal director of the campaign group Liberty, said: "Hopefully today's ruling will mark the end of out-of-date 'no gays' policies which are as intolerable as those referring to a person's race, gender or religion.
"Of course Liberty fiercely protects people's right to hold and express their religious beliefs. But refusing to accommodate customers simply because they're gay is unacceptable and our clients should never have faced such discrimination.""Of course Liberty fiercely protects people's right to hold and express their religious beliefs. But refusing to accommodate customers simply because they're gay is unacceptable and our clients should never have faced such discrimination."
Wilkinson, who is abroad on holiday, said in a statement: "I am disappointed to have lost at this stage, but I am pleased that there is hope for people like me who believe in marriage. Surely in our diverse 21st-century UK society there is ample room for a variety of lifestyles with many thousands of other B&Bs being willing to accommodate unmarried couples.Wilkinson, who is abroad on holiday, said in a statement: "I am disappointed to have lost at this stage, but I am pleased that there is hope for people like me who believe in marriage. Surely in our diverse 21st-century UK society there is ample room for a variety of lifestyles with many thousands of other B&Bs being willing to accommodate unmarried couples.
"It's sad that cases like this are coming to court in a country that has a great Christian heritage. However, whatever the outcome of my case, my faith is grounded in a sovereign, loving and unchanging God and his eternal plans and purposes.""It's sad that cases like this are coming to court in a country that has a great Christian heritage. However, whatever the outcome of my case, my faith is grounded in a sovereign, loving and unchanging God and his eternal plans and purposes."
Her appeal was funded by the Christian Institute, a national charity that defends the civil liberties of Christians, whose spokesman, Mike Judge, said: ""Balance is the key word. There should be more even-handedness for Christians who hold traditional views about marriage."Her appeal was funded by the Christian Institute, a national charity that defends the civil liberties of Christians, whose spokesman, Mike Judge, said: ""Balance is the key word. There should be more even-handedness for Christians who hold traditional views about marriage."
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