From BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8578787.stm

 

A gay couple were turned away from a Berkshire guest house by the owner who said it was "against her convictions" for two men to share a bed.

 

Michael Black and John Morgan, from Brampton, Cambridgeshire, had booked a double room at the Swiss B&B, Terry's Lane, in Cookham, for Friday night.

 

When they arrived Susanne Wilkinson refused to let them stay.

 

She admitted she did turn the couple away because it was against her policy to accommodate same sex couples.

 

She said if we'd told her in advance she would have told us not to come

Michael Black

 

The couple have now reported the matter to Thames Valley Police.

 

Under the Equality Act 2006 it is illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of sexual orientation.

 

Ms Wilkinson told the BBC: "They gave me no prior warning and I couldn't offer them another room as I was fully booked.

 

"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.

 

"I am not a hotel, I am a guest house and this is a private house."

 

Mr Black and Mr Morgan were in the village, near Maidenhead, to meet some friends for dinner and to see a local play.

 

Mr Black told the BBC: "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 said if we'd told her in advance she would have told us not to come.

 

"She apologised for turning us away. I asked for a refund of the deposit, which she gave me without quibble.

 

"We stayed polite and, to be fair, she wasn't rude or abusive.

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew

What are your views on this? I'm with the woman. Her house and she should be able to turn away anyone. The law's an ass saying she's in the wrong. I'm not homophobic by the way before you all start on me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's stupid, aren't we supposed to be living in the 21st century? :huh:

 

Tbh though the bit that creeps me out there is the idea of a 62 year old and a 56 year old having sex, regardless of gender :lol:

 

EDIT: Didn't mean to call your comment stupid, didn't see it before I posted.

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by BLVD

What are your views on this? I'm with the woman. Her house and she should be able to turn away anyone. The law's an ass saying she's in the wrong. I'm not homophobic by the way before you all start on me.

 

Do you think she should also have the right to turn away a black couple or a person with Down's Syndrome?

"I am not a hotel, I am a guest house and this is a private house."

 

Somebody should tell her that it's actually a business she's running, not just a "private house". Therefore, she should abide to anti-discrimination laws, regardless of her beliefs. These laws exist at UK and EU level (Article 21 of the charter of fundamental rights...).

 

 

Do you think she should also have the right to turn away a black couple or a person with Down's Syndrome?

 

Well she should be able to do what she likes in HER HOUSE. I know it's against the law what she did but shouldn't be imo.

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew

It's her business though, not just her house. If you've got a house and want a lodger, then yes it's acceptable to have a certain 'type' of person, but this is far from the case. She's selling it as a B&B and she has no right whatsoever to refuse a certain type of person to stay there. I hope it goes out of business.

What about us who have had letters from the Council asking if we've any rooms to sleep guests during the 2012 Olympics. Would those be merely lodgers?

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew

I'd say yes, if you're a 21 year old female I think you'd be excused for not wanting a 50 year old man live in your house for a few weeks...

I'd say yes, if you're a 21 year old female I think you'd be excused for not wanting a 50 year old man live in your house for a few weeks...

 

 

I'm a 50 year-old man and would welcome a 20 year-old female! :naughty:

She would get on well with this idiot

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/...US-general.html

 

A former American general blamed "open homosexuality" in the Dutch army for the failure to prevent the Srebrenica massacre in 1995.

 

The Dutch government condemned the comments by Gen John Sheehan, a former Nato commander and senior marine officer, as outrageous.

 

Gen Sheehan made the remarks at a Senate hearing where he argued against plans by President Barack Obama to end a ban on allowing gays to serve openly in the US military.

 

Gen Sheehan said that after the end of the Cold War, European militaries changed and concluded "there was no longer a need for an active combat capability."

 

He said this process included "open homosexuality" which resulted in "a focus on peacekeeping operations because they did not believe the Germans were going to attack again or the Soviets were coming back."

 

"The case in point that I'm referring to is when the Dutch were required to defend Srebrenica against the Serbs," he said, referring to the UN peacekeeping force deployed to protect Bosnian Muslim civilians.

 

"The battalion was understrength, poorly led, and the Serbs came into town, handcuffed the soldiers to the telephone poles, marched the Muslims off and executed them."

 

Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pressed him to clarify his comments.

 

"Did the Dutch leaders tell you it (the fall of Srebrenica) was because there were gay soldiers there?" asked an incredulous Levin.

 

"Yes," Sheehan said and added: "They included that as part of the problem."

Somebody should tell her that it's actually a business she's running, not just a "private house". Therefore, she should abide to anti-discrimination laws, regardless of her beliefs. These laws exist at UK and EU level (Article 21 of the charter of fundamental rights...).

 

Or she should perhaps on her website (if she has one) say 'homosexuals not welcome' ... so that people can see in advance her establishment's guest criteria - without the embarrassment of being turned away. You know ... the way that some hotels and guest houses say 'pets unwelcome'. Sadly there are people like this in the world ... I won't call them bigoted as maybe she is just an old trout set in her ways. Add this to the fact that we're talking Cookham (I worked there for five years ... beautiful village ... idiot residents ... by the way ... Chris Rea lives there ... not that he's an idiot ... although after FIYTIO his songs were sh/te!)

 

As an aside point ... how did she know they were gay? They could have been two heterosexual male friends wanting to save money without paying a 'single room supplement' ... because I can bet you a pound to a penny ... if it were two middle-aged women sharing a room ... she wouldn't have assumed that they were lesbians. Honestly ... men do have it rough in this world.

 

Norma

As many people have already said, the key to this is that she isn't offering a room in her house but instead is offering a service and that service is legislated by equality laws in the same way as many others. If you're going to be picky about who you let stay, you shouldn't really be running a guesthouse as your choice of business.

 

What are your views on this? I'm with the woman. Her house and she should be able to turn away anyone. The law's an ass saying she's in the wrong. I'm not homophobic by the way before you all start on me.

But if you and your wife (when you were a proper couple) had been turned away by someone who disapproved of mixed race couples would that have been OK?

As many people have already said, the key to this is that she isn't offering a room in her house but instead is offering a service and that service is legislated by equality laws in the same way as many others. If you're going to be picky about who you let stay, you shouldn't really be running a guesthouse as your choice of business.

 

Absolutely right Dandy. Go and have a look at their website and see their opening statement! Laugh ... I nearly died!

 

Norma

 

When my parents ran a B&B, i really could imagine my dad doing this. In fact i'd be surprised if he didn't...

It is against the law to refuse a gay couple a room at a B&B, hotel etc. as others have said, it is a business not a private arrangement.

 

This is only fair in a modern reasonable society.

Wonder if she'll be prosecuted then.

Edited March 21, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew

Wonder if she'll be prosecuted then.

She should be tbh. These things can get complicated if the owners object due to religious grounds of course, but this merely sounds like a bigot.

Oh dear, I saw the title and thought I'd have a look at where it was, so I could sneer. It's in the same county as me. Boo! :(

 

I obviously agree with everyone who said that, as this is a B&B, she can't really pick and choose who stays. (though part of me did think B&Bs had this right!)

 

Absolutely right Dandy. Go and have a look at their website and see their opening statement! Laugh ... I nearly died!

 

Norma

Haha "A warm & friendly welcome awaits all guests" - oops!