that you shouldn't open a hotel if you only want straight married couples to stay in it?

[JoanofArgos]

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/14/christian-couple-barred-gay-couple-shut-hotel

Horrid old bigots, say I.

"why some hotels/tour operators are allowed to stipulate age ranges, with/without kids dogs etc. i get that sexuality is protected, but age isn't - but WHY is the law like that?"

Groups of people haven't been persecuted or made to feel like second class citizens for haing a dog

excellent posts by hester, I can only assume they are bee-ing overlooked

And what is it with the way this thread always seems to return to the little yellow and black buzzy things?

It's an invasion by the "other" parenting site. They want us to start calling each other honey.

If I opened a B&B I wouldn't want any Christians staying in it.

Is that acceptable?

Why has no one explained why it is ok for the Gay b&b to not accept striaght people and why is it ok for G.A.Y Club to turn away stright people.

No one in business should be alound to turn anyone away whether or not they are gay, straight, white, black or anything else related.

Is the bee thing some kind of advanced lesbian practice I'm unaware of (despite my competitive PCness)?

I've been to GAY with a manfriend so it could be that they're turning you away because they suspect you of being a buttoned up bigot rather than 'cos you're a breeder.

It is illegal to turn away straight people from a gay hotel or pub, because they are straight.

madonnawhore maybe you could just let them stay in the Madonna half of the B&B (Bee and Bee?).

MrSpoc - my understanding of the law is that it is fine for a business to target a group which is disadvantaged or under-represented, but their treatment of everyone still has to comply with discrimination law. So it's fine to advertise as being "gay only" as a way to target gays as your customers. But if a straight person wanted to stay there, they would not be able to refuse their booking.

I don't know how the laws on discrimination are applied to places like night clubs, where the door staff seem able to decide who to let in on the basis of things like appearance and clothes. Presumably they have some kind of let-out which allows them to "discriminate" in that way, so long as it can't be shown that it is specifically discriminating on the basis of sexuality or disability or colour etc.

So they can refuse you entry because youre wearing Boden instead of black leather, but not because you're straight.

How about black leather Boden?

MrSpoc - no-one's explained why it's ok, because it isn't ok. If you were to deign to read the thread you would see that plenty of people have explained this already.

I've also been to a gay bar with a boyfriend. We even kissed in there! I did joke with him that maybe we shouldn't because it's only just about alright to BE straight as long as you don't rub it in people's faces :o No-one gave a toss, of course.

Hope this doesn't sound too patronising but I really like seeing gay and lesbian couples walking around hand in hand, or otherwise publicly demonstrating that they are more than just friends. So many years of being under threat of prison (for the chaps) or being an outcast, and the continuing threat (as this thread/case shows) of being looked on as different, weird, disgusting or just plain wrong. All now - HOPEFULLY - coming to an end.

Like all discrimination, the more you think about it, the sillier it seems.

"so, you're discriminating against this person - why's that then?"
"because they have sex with men"
"and? I have sex with men"
"well, yes, but you're a woman"
"so do they abuse vulnerable people or something?
"well, no, all consenting adults"
"oh...right. And the fact that they like having sex with other consenting adult men says something about their general personality, likeability and worthiness as a person because...?"
"well, because...um..."

If I opened a B&B I wouldn't want any >Christians staying in it.

Is that acceptable?

You could want for them not to stay but refusing them on grounds of religion would no be legal.

Hi ElephantsAndMiasmas - yes it is very patronising your post.

I have read the thread with interest and still do not see why because you are a minority you can still discriminate against the majority.

This is meant to be about equality.

Just for your info, i have been out regulary to cannel st in Manchester (a well known GAY disctrict) and I have a few good gay mates. So i resent the fact that you feel i am homophobic casue i dare ask why is it ok for one and not the other.

MrSpoc....so you've been out on Canal Street.....and were readily accepted in many "gay" establishments? even though you are not gay? and your point about equality is?

MrSpoc NO THEY CAN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE MAJORITY !!!!!

The law says quite clearly that they are not allowed to discriminate against straight people.

The only thing that a business is able to do is to decide that there is a lack of facilities for a particular section of the community, and advertise their goods or services in a way which encourages those people to take part.

They can open a hotel which caters for gays. They can start up a dog-walking service aimed at one-legged lesbians. They can start a shop aimed at the Jewish community, eg by selling only Kosher products and not opening on Shabbat. But none of those business is allowed to refuse their goods or services to people who are not part of that group.

They could even open a hotel, call it Christian, and offer daily seminars on why heterosexual marriage is God's will for everyone. But they can't refuse to let same sex couples stay in it.

yet the gay only hotel clearly stated that on their website. It even said that many other hotels pretend to be exclusive for gays but often let straight people in where as their hotel is purley for gay people and you would not find any straight people staying at their hotel.

also the link earlier about the G.A.Y event - the owner or organiser was on twitter saying that young female fans of the boy band should be turned away as it is clear whay G.A.Y means.

I agree that catering for a select market is fine as long as you do not turn other people away.

kepler10b - i dont get your point. because some gay venues let straigh people in does not make your point valid?

either that or i come across gay lol.

i think the point was you wrre accepted and not discriminated against, and yt you're arguing that discrimination the other way should be allowed

I've actually been to that hotel ye are talking about, and as far as I recall I was not a gay man at the time.

StealthPolarStuckSpaceBar i have never once said disrimination should be aloud. I said that if one is not aloud then the other should not be aloud also.

Buzzlightbeer - I stand corrected but thier website needs to be changed then.