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.

I think its about time I went back to religion. I was raised Catholic, and if we can do what we like as long as its backed up by the Bible, then I can soothe my murderous urges by killing all day long!

Seriously, the list of people its ok to kill in the Bible is huuuuge!

1. People who work on the sabbath
2. people who plant 2 different crops next to each other
3. people who wear 2 kinds of cloth together
4. people who touch leather thats even before I've thought about the actual sodomites and foreigners and adulterous women!

WOO_HOO, killing spree here I come!

Christianity is supposed to be a tolerant faith, so even if they do not agree with the idea of homosexual coupling, they should have been tolerant.

unhappyshopper and friedtoacrisp, we live in a homophobic society, and homophobia is not always because of religion either. So as a result, hotels for homosexual people have sprung up here and there. If we lived in a tolerant society then the argument could be there that this is hypocritical but when you have people saying things like homosexuals "parade thier sexuality", its understandable that these niche market establishments exist in order for homosexuals who do not feel relaxed in a mixed establishment to stay somewhere they feel more accepted. Besides, I bet the only reason it feels like homosexuals "parade thier sexuality" to you is because it stands out to you as different or not of the norm. Whatever instances you have witnessed that have led you to think this would probably have meant nothing to you had it been a straight couple instead. People don't see a straight couple kissing or holding hands and do a double take in the streets. I do think we live in a society where people may be offended if thier children for instance see a homosexual couple kissing and touching in the park, but we have to learn to let people live thier lives and it should be compromise on both sides. E.G: I wont see you on the street late at night and abuse and pummel you for not being heterosexual, giving you cause to over assert your sexuality in order to establish your defiance in the face of persecution" and "I will not offend you by being overly affectionate in the park on Sunday aternoon if your kids are around".

Its give and take, and eventually we will come to a more tolerant place.

BTW, I'm not being PC, hate that rubbish, just know the feeling of being part of a minority and have lots of gay friends who also know that feeling. People who usually say things like some of the commenters here do not know that feeling or are the kind of religious or conservative types who adhere to the idea of the acceptable norms in society.

unruly - but at least that gives us carte blanche to discriminate against the religious - after all they choose to be that way.

Your post upthread :
because one has no choice over such categories

Implying that people chose to be gay, not chose to display "gayness"or what ever you actually mean by the extent we display our sexuality.

Most people, gay or straight don't walk around snogging/shagging, so I dont see where the display thing comes in.

As for the hotel, we have no idea what any couples in a hotel room get up to, married/single/klingon whatever.

Allowing or not allowing people to share a double bed on the basis of what they might get up to under the sheets is bonkers.
I've often shared a double bed with female friends. (Never felt the urge to shag them though) But on the silly rule of that hotel, I wouldnt be allowed to because they were not my husband.

Its all a load of crap.

Pascoe, so you think that they should pretend or go elsewhere? That it's just something they have to put up with?

"Lest the opponents of the Bill think that a new freedom, a new privileged class, has been created, let me remind them that no amount of legislation will prevent homosexuals from being the subject of dislike and derision, or at best of pity. We shall always, I fear, resent the odd man out. That is their burden for all time, and they must shoulder it like men?for men they are."

Those are the words of Lord Arran talking about the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967.

You've not really moved on much have you.

LND - good post. The only issue I have is this whole idea of tolerance. To tolerate something is to put up with it even though you know it is wrong. A "tolerant" society is not one which accepts differences, it "puts up with them", we'll "tolerate" gays (even though we know they are sexual deviants really). We'll "tolerate" other races (even though we know we're better than them really), we'll tolerate women in the workplace (even though we know they should be at home raising their husbands children). If I'm in a minority I don't want to be tolerated, I want to be treated the same as everyone else and have ny equal status recognised.

Unrulysun, Id betcha they would. They at least have a good sense of humour.

I cant believe the crap thats being spouted on here by so called Christians.
New Testament Christians should note that Jesus wasnt a bigot. And he wanted people to follow him.
You know . Lead by example.

LDN, there are gay pride marches all over the country.. they are parades..

Tell me of any straight pride marches that you know of please.. because I cant think of one.

I went to the Manchester one, once.. there were lots of men and women who were naked walking about.. so tell me, why is that?

If a straight man in a clear pvc pink raincoat were to walk about wearing nothing under that raincoat, he would be arrested, but why is it fine for a gay man to do it in the name of a pride march??????

unhappy shopper - perhaps because the whole of mainstream society celebrates heterosexuality and is based around it - we don't need separate parades?

Great - well that's the weekend sorted - dh will be so pleased when I tell him.

lal123

I know what you mean but what I meant is that we are not even in a tolerant society yet so we cannot make changes overnight. I as a minority want to be accepted for who I am but as a realist I know it will not happen overnight. So these small steps in tolerance, will hopefully get us to acceptance and then to the point where its a non issue what someones sexuality, race or religion is. Though I doubt I will see it in my lifetime, hopeully we will get there

Ok, I realise this has decended into a bun fight but I am unclear on something!

This b&b has said no unmarried couples, the reason for this is that they want to cater to people of a christian background who do not tolerate sex before marriage. It happens that this was tested to the max when a gay couple arrived, their union being cival it is not recognised by christianity and therefore does not meet the criteria for the b&b yes?

I don't really understnad how this is any more discriminatory than saying no children or no large single sex parties or no-one under a certain age (Saga type) or no-one over a certain age (club 18-30 type). There are places out there to fit most people - and therefore palces that do not fit people - by definition. You can't have one without the other can you?

Anyway, on another - far more serious note - the person who stated that hetrosexual people don't feel the need to have marches and wave banners etc because they don't see life as all about sexuality

I don't know if you have noticed but women still have to do this to keep clawing away at the chance of an equal society and women are a lot further forward in their battle then people who are homosexual, think back to Emily Pankhurst and the marches that went on then - all to gain recognition of a sex, a gender. Gay Pride marches are no different, a section of our society wants equal treatment to the other sections of our society.

The only thing that is wrong with marching for gay rights is that there is any need to - equality should be automatic.

Life's a straight pride march unhappyshopper!

And the answer is, to shock the likes of you. And look, so easily that is acheived.

Yes, there are pride marches all over the country.
You need to look at what Pride means.
It is all about are celebrating being themselves, and celebrating that its ok to be LGBT.
They have had to hide themselves for a very long time.
When have straight people had to hide being straight?

(Was he really naked?
Hope he was fit!)

I'd really like to understand why it's ok for gay men to shag in public (or do whatever it is they do when 'cottaging') when it's not ok for heterosexual couples to do the same? Is it because they're gay so we mustn't persecute them? Bloody double standards get right on my nerves. If it's a level playing field everyone wants then let's level it up.

I loved the quote on the news 'freedom to uphold our beliefs under our own roof' - er, that'll be the same roof you rent out to paying guests, then? I actually shouted 'TWAT' at the radio.

There are laws about shagging in public that are equal to everyone, you numpty. If you are going to bitch about it, find something real and not imagined in your bigoted little head.

unhappyshopper

You didn't get what I was saying, these marches and gay only hotels exist because they have to or a marginalized group o people. There are no straight pride marches because heterosexuals are not persecuted or made to feel like there is no pride in heterosexuality where as Gay people are. So yes, they have a march once a year where they can collectively assert pride in thier sexuality in a homophobic society.

Besides, it is a march, not a parade.

Who says it's "ok for gay men to shag in public"?

I'm still astounded that anyone really is dim enough to believe that this couple were likely to be exploring each others' tonsils with their tongues over breakfast.

Typed a response to FTAC but actually can't be bothered to dignify that.

If you don't know what it is they do, then is it fair to say that what it is they do is probably not shagging in public?

friedtoacrisp are you saying that straight couples don't do that??

Ever heard of Dogging??

I dont think its ok for anyone to shag in public or at least in full view of the public.

Anyone of any sexuality can be done for indecent exposure or a public order offences.