Gay couple win court case against B&B owner

A gay couple turned away from a bed and breakfast in Berkshire due to the owner’s religious views have won their court case against the owner, it was announced last week. The British Humanist Association (BHA) welcomes the court’s decision.

Michael Black, 64, and John Morgan, 59, booked a double room at the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Cookham, Berkshire, in 2010. However, owner Susanne Wilkinson refused to let them stay in a room with a double bed because of her belief that sex outside marriage or civil partnership is a sin. Reading County Court ruled that Mr Black and Mr Morgan suffered from unlawful discrimination and the couple have been awarded £3,600 in damages.

This case is similar to that of Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy, who were refused a room with a double bed by the Christian owners of a guest house in Cornwall in September 2008. They were also found to have been discriminated against, although their case has now gone to the Supreme Court.

Recorder Claire Moulder said that by refusing to let the couple stay in a double room, Mrs Wilkinson had ‘treated them less favourably than she would treat unmarried heterosexual couples in the same circumstances’ – who would, in fact, have been allowed a room. James Welch, from human rights organisation Liberty (who took up Mr Black and Mr Morgan’s case), said that ‘It is simply unacceptable for people running a business to refuse to provide a service because of someone’s sexual orientation.’ Mrs Wilkinson’s case was supported by the Legal Defence Fund of the Christian Institute, a socially conservative Christian group.

Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented, ‘We are pleased that the court has ruled that Michael Black and John Morgan were victims of discrimination, and has awarded them damages. The right to express one’s religious beliefs has to be balanced against other human rights and should not be used as a licence to discriminate.’

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