Love your neighbour... Unless of course he's gay

A gay couple were turned away from a bed and breakfast by its Christian owner who claimed it was against her convictions for two men to share a bed.

Michael Black and John Morgan booked a double room at the B&B in Cookham, Berkshire.

When they arrived, Susanne Wilkinson and her husband Francis refused to allow them to stay. The owner said later that she had turned them away because it was against her policy to accommodate same sex couples.

Black and Morgan claimed they were treated like lepers as a result of their sexuality. They reported the matter to Thames Valley police and have given a statement to police. Under the Equality Act 2006 it is illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Black said: We're two respectable middle-aged men. John is leader of the Lib Dem group on Huntingdon town council. This was the first time either of us had experienced homophobia at first hand, despite being aged 56 and 62. We were shocked and embarrassed. Mrs Wilkinson saw us both before we got out of the car and immediately acted in an unwelcoming, cold way, but my boyfriend and I were polite and friendly. She apologised for turning them away and she returned their deposit and was in no way abusive, the couple said.

Mrs Wilkinson said: I don't see why I should change my mind and my beliefs I've held for years just because the government should force it on me. The property is not a hotel. It operates as a guest house and private home.

Mr Wilkinson said: We are Christians and we believe our rights don't have to be subordinated. We have religious freedom and we are not judging that but we are not prepared to have that sort of activity under our roof.

Based on article from christian.org.uk

The Christian B&B owners who wouldn't give a double bed to a homosexual couple have been deluged with hate mail, including a threat to burn down their home.

Mike and Susanne Wilkinson have been subjected to abusive phone calls, text messages and emails since the story emerged in the media.

And police officers arrived at the couple's home last night to look into the abuse.

Mr Wilkinson described the abuse, saying: There must have been 900 emails, and I would say half of them are really abusive and threatening. I'm really saddened that so many people have articulated themselves in such a foul way.

The Christian Institute's Mike Judge said: Whether you agree with the Wilkinsons' beliefs or not, a diverse society is one that respects diversity of opinion. Surely the world is big enough to let people disagree. Suing someone because you don't like their beliefs is illiberal, undemocratic and has no place in a free society.

A gay couple who were turned away by a Christian bed and breakfast owner because it was against her convictions to let them share a double bed are suing her for damages.

Michael Black and John Morgan have brought in human rights organisation Liberty to help take legal action against Susanne Wilkinson.

The start of legal proceedings comes two months after Black and Morgan reported Mrs Wilkinson to police for refusing them a room. They said she was breaching discrimination laws and that they were horrified by the former air hostess's outdated and abhorrent views.

But Mrs Wilkinson and her husband Francis, a former city worker, insisted they were simply living according to their values and Christian beliefs. Mrs Wilkinson said she would have offered the couple two single rooms, but the guest house was fully booked. Susanne and Francis Wilkinson

Last night her husband said: Ours is a faith position and hasn't changed. This response seems completely disproportionate-We feel the law is wrong and needs to be amended.

But James Welch, legal director of Liberty, said: Liberty defends the rights of religious groups to preach their beliefs, even when we disagree with them, but not to discriminate in the provision of goods and services.

The Wilkinsons have been helped by the Christian Institute pressure group. Spokesman Simon Calvert said: This comes down to the rights of a gay couple to have a holiday where they choose against the right of a Christian couple to act in accordance with their conscience.

Two Christian hotel owners have been ordered to pay damages for refusing a bed to a gay couple .

Peter and Hazelmary Bull whinged that Christianity had been pushed to the margins of society, and added: Some people are more equal than others.

They spoke out after a landmark court decision awarded £1,800 each to civil partners Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy, who were denied a double room under the Bulls' policy of allowing only married couples to share a bed in the hotel that is also their home. Victory:

Judge Andrew Rutherford said that in the past 50 years social attitudes had changed. He concluded that the Bulls discriminate on the basis of marital status: There is no material difference between marriage and a civil partnership. If that is right, then upon what basis do the defendants draw a distinction if it is not on sexual orientation? The only conclusion which can be drawn is that the refusal to allow [the claimants] to occupy the double room which they had booked was because of their sexual orientation and that this is direct discrimination.

His likening of civil partnership to marriage may lead to a long legal battle if the Bulls appeal.

There was a suggestion during the trial that the hoteliers had been set up as part of a campaign against discrimination. But the judge said he could see no evidence of such a sting operation and added that damages would have been greatly reduced if that was so. He said: There was a suggestion in the course of the case, and indeed in some newspaper reports prior to the case, that the defendants were "set up" by the claimants with the assistance of an organisation such as Stonewall. If this were true then, while it would not of itself defeat a discrimination claim, it would very materially affect the issue of damages.

Update: Appeal

26th January 2011. See article from bbc.co.uk

The Christian owners of a Cornwall hotel who unlawfully refused to allow a gay couple a double room have appealed.

The Christian Institute is reportedly funding the appeal.

Update: Appeal decision reserved

15th November 2011. See article from christian.org.uk

The judgment in the appeal case of B&B owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull, has been reserved and a ruling is not expected to be given for several weeks.

The Bulls are seeking to overturn a ruling by a previous judge who said their policy of restricting double rooms to married couples discriminated against homosexuals.