Christians Versus Unmarried Gay Sex In Cornwall Hotel Case
TO Bristol County Court, where Gay couple Steven Preddy and Martyn Hall are suing Peter and Hazelmary Bull for refusing to allow them to share a double bed at their Chymorvah Private Hotel in Marazion near Penzance, Cornwall. The copel say there are Christians and, as such, do not allow unmarried couples to share a bed under their roof. Preddy and Hall are seeking £5,000 in damages, alleging sexual orientation discrimination.
In court, the plaintiffs say they are members of Stonewall, a lobbying group that would prevent attacks on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from ever occurring again.
Also in court, the Bulls’ employee Bernie Quinn, Quinn says that before Preddy and Hall arrived, the hotel had recived a letter from Stonewall. In it, Mr and Mrs Bull were advised of new equality legislation.
Does that matter? Stonewall says it had contacted the Bulls after another, separate complaint from a customer. Pink News quotes a Stonewall spokesman thus (via Pink News):
“It’s been illegal since 2007 for businesses to discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual customers. Stonewall contacted the Chymorvah hotel in response to a complaint to our InfoLine from a caller about their discriminatory booking policy. We sent them a letter reminding them that the law had changed and what they were doing was illegal and offered to update them if necessary. The complaint to our InfoLine was unrelated and is entirely separate to the current court case.”
The Telegraph reports:
He told the court that hours before Mr Preddy had made a telephone booking in September 2008 he spoke to a ”Mrs Preddy” regarding a double room. The claimants’ barrister, Catherine Casserley, asked Mr Quinn: ”Are you suggesting this claim was a set-up?” Mr Quinn agreed and added: ”It is not beyond the realms of possibility. I have no proof other than the phone call. ‘I cannot assume for them what their motivations were or weren’t. I assumed, going back to the phone call, that we were expecting a Mr and Mrs Preddy and what arrived was two gentlemen.”
The Christian Institute’s Mike Judge says:
“This Christian couple are being put on trial for their beliefs. Equality laws are being used as a sword rather than a shield.”
Is this a matter of religion or sexual orientation for vested interest groups to mould? No. It’s a matter of law. The case goes on…
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Posted: 13th, December 2010 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
