By Hilary White
LONDON, July 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In conflicts over same-sex couples staying in hotels run by religious believers, it is up to the owners to accommodate or close, the government says.
In April, the Labour government passed the Sexual Orientation Regulations of the Equality Act 2006, drafted under the supervision of homosexual lobbyists, that make it illegal for Christian and other religious objectors to homosexual behaviour to refuse business to gay clientele.
In the case of family owned bed and breakfast establishments, this requirement means that proprietors must allow homosexual partners to stay in the same room or be forced to close.
Today the government ruled that in cases where religious or other belief makes this situation impossible, the only choice is to entirely disallow any guests to sleep together, whether they are married couples or homosexual partners.
In a letter, Meg Munn, a junior minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government who held the equality remit under Tony Blair, said the rules mean that no business owner may refuse on any grounds whatever. She said the only choice is to change the business itself. The Telegraph quotes her saying that photographers with objections must switch to portrait photography, while a chauffer who did not want to drive for homosexuals must change jobs.
In related news, in a move praised by gay activists and socialists, the Brown government has created a new cabinet post, Secretary of State for Equalities, assigned to Harriet Harman, Leader of the Commons and Deputy Labour Leader. Harman is also Chair of the Labour Party and Minister for Women.
The Commons Leader website describes the purpose of the new post as being “to strengthen further the Government’s ability to deliver across the entire equalities agenda. Harriet Harman will be responsible for the new Equalities Office at Cabinet level as Secretary of State.”
In a speech during the London Pride in June, Harman told the crowd that the fight for “gay rights” is not over. “We all know that there is further to go, and that this is a day of determination too.”
“We are going to have a new Commission for Equality and Human Rights that will mainstream the battle against homophobia. We are going to have new work in schools to tackle homophobia, more work within the police and the criminal justice system to prevent and deter homophobic crime. We have come long way but further got to go.”
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