Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Court fines hotel owners for refusing gay couple a room
A court in England has fined hotel owners Peter and Hazelmary Bullfor refusing a gay couple a double room, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy tried to get a room at the Chymorvah Hotel, near Penzance, in 2008, but were turned away. The judge ruled that this was discrimination and awarded the couple £1800 ($2,863) each in damages.
The Bulls are Christian and say they object to giving any unmarried couple a room. The judge ruled that since Hall and Preddy are civil partners they have the same rights as married couples. The BBC has filmed a statement by Hall and Preddy.
[Image courtesy Ludovic Bertron]
Filed under: Europe, United Kingdom, Hotels and Accommodations, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Simon Phillips Jan 18th 2011 6:10PM
This is a total travesty of justice - it is a sick world when a man and woman of obvious integrity and principle should be criminalised by troublemakers.
It was perfectly clear from their website that they would not entertain non-married couples so this would certainly include this gay couple. They mighth have won the battle but they have not won the war. Their failure lies in that they have incited many to become homophobic.
steven Jan 18th 2011 8:20PM
nobody is criminalised here except another human beings for being who they are. You mister Simon are a narrow minded person that is full of discrimination. Simon sometimes you need to think out side of the box. I not gay but discrimination must stop!!!! the sooner these narrow minded people like you die just maybe this will be a better world.
K Scatko Jan 18th 2011 8:39PM
Do you believe their policy includes siblings or traveling companions? Hmmm, married sisters or married brothers .... How about war buddies cutting costs? Not everyone who shares a room is looking to dirty the sheets. I travel with a same sex business partner, we share a room to save money. Should we be penalized for being thrifty?
ShariSez Jan 18th 2011 9:37PM
Oh bullpucky. Do you think they ask hetero couples for a marriage license? Of course not. It was discrimination, pure and simple. And there is certainly no integrity in the fact that they then disingeneously claimed it was because they weren't married. Last time I checked principles were not something used in lying.
Sunny Jan 19th 2011 12:33AM
Simon, It is remarks like yours that cause additional problems. To a Christian it is completely wrong in even direction you look at. The problem with our country now is that things like man to man and women to women marriages, no prayer in schools are ok with people like you and have been allowed to continue and in most cases get worse. Then you make a childish remark like " When people like you DIE" ????
It is just as ok for a Christian to express his or her veiws as it is for you to make such statements as you made. Maybe you should grow up and come out of short pants before you say such words again. Freedom of speech and expression are bought and paid for by people like me. You abuse it and that is the proble. Gays can be gays but Christians cannot be Christians. So sad.
Cyndi Jan 19th 2011 3:38AM
So glad they won this, they deserve it. People need to recognise that we are just like any other couple.
Nuttin' But The Truth Jan 18th 2011 8:17PM
The hotel owners didn't want "Hershey Tracks" all over their clean sheets.
Larry Jan 18th 2011 8:34PM
What makes you think "Hershey Tracks" can't be caused by a married couple?
krisb613 Jan 18th 2011 8:33PM
Unfortunately for the Christian owners, the couple did go through the steps to have their relationship recognized. If the couple were NOT civil partners, then the Christian couple would have been within their rights. I know this was the UK and not the USA, but separation of church and state is the rule there too.
CoolHandLuke Jan 18th 2011 8:59PM
Huh? Seperation of church and state? There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that says anything about seperation of church and state....there is however a section that states that the federal government will not impose a national religon (ie: the church of England) and force people to become members of it. The left wing nutcases have twisted this into government employees not being able to tell eachother (at work) Merry Christmas. Or being able to display any personal signs of religon on their desks or on their persons in their work places. This nation was founded on judeo christian principles, our constitution is riddled with God...and our founding fathers would be ashamed if they knew what the neoprogressives have done to it.
Now as far as this article goes....these people are not governemnt employees, they are private business owners who have every right to deny service to anyone they choose...this PC crap has got to end. The government has NO right to tell a private business who they can cater to. If it was me...I wouldn't rent them a room either...
Kris Jan 19th 2011 7:25AM
CoolHandLuke -
You REALLY need to study better. The constitution does not mention God even once, and the word "Lord" is only mentioned in one Article as "...in the year of our Lord..." The Constitution DOES specifically state that there is to be no religious test as a requirement for qualification of elected office. And please show me which laws and rules set forth in the Constitution are based on the Bible. Please? just one? As for the "merry christmas" in the office, and posting of religious paraphanelia, you really only have yourselves to blame. I have pagan, jewish, muslim and christian friends, so I tend to say "Happy Holidays" because it's just easier. The ONLY people to 'correct' me are Christians who insist on being told "merry christmas" or who scathingly reply "merry CHRISTmas". Of course they are completely ignorant of the fact that both Haunakah and Solstice were celebrated that time of year LONG before Christianity. The phrase "separation of church and state" was coined by Thomas Jefferson, one of the writers of the Declaration of Independence and a Founding Father. I think I'll take HIS word concerning what they meant over yours. As for the people not being government employees, that has nothing to do with anything. If you have a PUBLIC business, you cannot discriminate against people. If you want to discriminate, you have to have a PRIVATE, members-only business. They have a PUBLIC business. If they wish to go private, then they should.
ajschrod Jan 18th 2011 11:48PM
What you said makes sense. Simply being a seriously practicing Christian and a hotel owner at the same time could create problems. The sectarian law must uphold rights that might conflict with religious moral decency standards, but with Iran being the world's only thocracy, common sense must prevail.
Bill T. Jan 18th 2011 8:38PM
if they wouldn't french kiss each other in front of the check in desk... the couple, would have seen them as a couple of sales guys and they would have got the room...but I bet they came in "flaming and proud"
Mike Q Jan 19th 2011 12:26AM
I agree with you. Normal people don't jump up and down telling everyone who they have sex with. Just as they don't see the need to expose themselves. I'm sure this hotel will more than make up the amount of the fine. I know it would make a difference to me, I'd much rather stay in their hotel.
Carter Jan 18th 2011 8:48PM
I know a guy that wants to take his goat there and french kiss it . They should force that hotel to give them a room too .
Chubbs Jan 18th 2011 8:49PM
It will be illegal to be a Christian before you know it.
jazz Jan 19th 2011 10:51AM
That will never happen.
jazz Jan 28th 2011 7:32PM
What an ignorant statement.
But I guess thats how homophobic people are...they think that just because someone isnt like them that they should be descriminated against and compared to animals.
R Jan 19th 2011 11:00PM
THAT'S QUEER!!!
JudeThom Jan 18th 2011 9:07PM
Good for this couple. If you run a hotel, expect anything. Duh. People want beds. If this offends you, become a Church Mouse or open a damn car wash. Duh.