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UK: Campaigners confront Archbishop of York over discrimination of married gay clergy

Oct 08 2014
Written by Aaron Day

Gay rights campaigners have confronted the Archbishop of York for discriminating against chaplain Jeremy Pemberton, who was banned from becoming a priest this year after becoming the UK’s first gay clergy.

Jeremy Pemberton, who was sacked by the House of Bishops earlier this year after becoming the first gay clergy to marry in the UK, had also been selected by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as chaplaincy and bereavement manager.

However, he was refused a licence by acting Bishop for Southwell and Nottingham Richard Inwood, who consulted had Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

Campaigners at Southwell Minster confronted Dr John Sentamu yesterday on his arrival to the town for the re-opening of the Archbishop Palace.

Mr Tatchell, founder of human rights group the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said: “It’s really important that the Archbishop of York is challenged over his support for anti-gay discrimination and his specific victimisation of Canon Jeremy Pemberton.

“It’s wrong to deprive a priest of his right to work because he’s married the man he loves – discrimination is not a Christian value.

“We’re serving notice on the Archbishop and the whole of the Anglican leadership that their support for discrimination, for illegal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, is not compatible with human rights.

“We always live and hope that supporters of discrimination will repent.”