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18/10/2012
Couple Win Discrimination Ruling
It has been ruled that a couple that were turned away from a bed and breakfast, for being gay, were discriminated against.
64-year-old Michael Black and John Morgan, 59, booked a double room at the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Berkshire via email in March 2010.
When they arrived, owner Susanne Wilkinson would not let them stay in a room with a double bed.
Today the couple, from Brampton near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire were awarded £1,800 each at Reading County Court for "injury to feelings".
Recorder Claire Moulder said that by refusing the couple access to a double room, Mrs Wilkinson had "treated them less favourably than she would treat unmarried heterosexual couples in the same circumstances".
The ruling comes as a similar case in Cornwall awaits a Supreme Court hearing.
Reacting to the ruling, Mrs Wilkinson said: "Naturally, my husband and I are disappointed to have lost the case and to have been ordered to pay £3,600 in damages for injury to feelings.
"We believe a person should be free to act upon their sincere beliefs about marriage under their own roof without living in fear of the law. Equality laws have gone too far when they start to intrude into a family home."
The Christian Institute had backed Mrs Wilkinson's case.
Mrs Wilkinson was granted permission to appeal against the ruling and said she would give it "serious consideration".
Mr Black said the ruling felt "like a triumph".
He said: "It's taken two and a half years to get this far so to get the judgement and be vindicated in it is a great feeling."
(H)
64-year-old Michael Black and John Morgan, 59, booked a double room at the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Berkshire via email in March 2010.
When they arrived, owner Susanne Wilkinson would not let them stay in a room with a double bed.
Today the couple, from Brampton near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire were awarded £1,800 each at Reading County Court for "injury to feelings".
Recorder Claire Moulder said that by refusing the couple access to a double room, Mrs Wilkinson had "treated them less favourably than she would treat unmarried heterosexual couples in the same circumstances".
The ruling comes as a similar case in Cornwall awaits a Supreme Court hearing.
Reacting to the ruling, Mrs Wilkinson said: "Naturally, my husband and I are disappointed to have lost the case and to have been ordered to pay £3,600 in damages for injury to feelings.
"We believe a person should be free to act upon their sincere beliefs about marriage under their own roof without living in fear of the law. Equality laws have gone too far when they start to intrude into a family home."
The Christian Institute had backed Mrs Wilkinson's case.
Mrs Wilkinson was granted permission to appeal against the ruling and said she would give it "serious consideration".
Mr Black said the ruling felt "like a triumph".
He said: "It's taken two and a half years to get this far so to get the judgement and be vindicated in it is a great feeling."
(H)
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