Current Affairs

Christian B&B couple take same-sex bed ban to highest UK court

Aug 14 2012
Written by Scott Roberts

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Two Christian guesthouse owners who prevented a gay couple from staying in one of their double bedrooms, have won the right to take their case to the UK Supreme Court.

Judges have twice ruled Peter and Hazelmary Bull, from Cornwall, broke equality laws in the running of their business.

However, according to ITV News, the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, will now let them make an appeal.

Martin Hall and Steven Preddy, civil partners from Bristol, had successfully sued the socially conservative couple for sexual orientation discrimination.

The couple had been turned away from the Chymorvah Hotel near Penzance in 2008 under the Bulls’ policy of not allowing unmarried couples to share rooms.

In January 2011 a judge at Bristol County Court ruled the Bulls’ behaviour amounted to direct discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and awarded a total of £3,600 damages to Mr Hall and Mr Preddy.

In February of this year, Mr and Mrs Bull took their case to the Court of Appeal and lost their appeal against a ruling that they had acted unlawfully.

The Christian Institute has financially supported their legal campaign and spokesman Simon Calvert said at the time: “Peter and Hazelmary have been penalised for their beliefs about marriage.

“Not everyone will agree with Peter and Hazelmary’s beliefs, but a lot of people will think it is shame that the law doesn’t let them live and work according to their own values under their own roof.

“Something has gone badly wrong with our equality laws when good, decent people like Peter and Hazelmary are penalised but extremist hate preachers are protected.”