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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think you shouldn't have to accommodate gay / unmarried couples?

407 replies

moogstera1 · 19/10/2012 09:18

Re. the b and b owners who have been fined for refusing to allow a gay couple to share a room.
From what I can gather, they are committed Christians who do not allow hetero or homosexual unmarried couples to share a room.
The gay couple deliberatly chose this B and B as they knew they would be refused a shared room and wanted to make a legal point.
They were offered 2 seperate rooms but refused.
So, despite personally not being at all religious and not caring if someone wants to share their bed with whoever they choose, AIBU to think that in their own home, they can choose to uphold their values ( which seem to be consistent as regards no unmarried couples.)

OP posts:

Narked · 19/10/2012 12:16

I think it's terrible that they've been fined. They should have been banned from running a hotel.

geegee888 · 19/10/2012 12:17

What if a Muslim man visiting from outside this country turned up at a small family b & b with his obviously under-age child bride, and was refused a double room because of it?

Cozy9 · 19/10/2012 12:18

Kewcumber - If that's what the business owners want, so be it. I think they'd go out of business very fast with that policy!

Woozley · 19/10/2012 12:18

YABU. Don't set up in business if you wish to practise unfair discrimination or anything else that breaks the law. You don't get an exemption from following the law just because the sky pixies tell you it's ok. (Well, actually religions have several exemptions, particularly in employment law, but that's another can of worms).

Kewcumber · 19/10/2012 12:18

"I don't think they would have a problem with a hindu married couple" - how do you know that - hindu's worship more than one god which is forbidden - why is that acceptable and having sex outside marriage not? What about a muslim from a country which allows polygamy - is that OK?

If you run a business you have to obey the law. You don't get to pick which ones you want to comply with. And if you can't do that then, no, you shouldn't be running that business.

FreakySnuckerCupidStunt · 19/10/2012 12:18

almeci It is the same thing, actually, she didn't have to sit at the front of the bus, she could just have easily sat at the back. She knew full well black people were supposed to sit at the back. Perhaps the people in the bus didn't feel comfortable sitting next to a black woman?

FreakySnuckerCupidStunt · 19/10/2012 12:19

What if a Muslim man visiting from outside this country turned up at a small family b & b with his obviously under-age child bride, and was refused a double room because of it?

Really, you're going to compare pedophilia to a consenting gay couple. REALLY?

You're a dick and an idiot.

Kewcumber · 19/10/2012 12:21

"Kewcumber - If that's what the business owners want, so be it. I think they'd go out of business very fast with that policy!"

No they wouldn't, they would attract all those people who are quite happy with that position and my son would have to accept that some people are allowed to do anything they want (even be offensive to him) but he isn't.

Disco76 · 19/10/2012 12:21

Don't think b&b owners should have to pay £3k - crime victims get less, and if they can have gay only resorts they can have hetrosexual only resorts too! bit.ly/VmWRcF

FreakySnuckerCupidStunt · 19/10/2012 12:21

Child marriage/pedophilia is illegal in this country- as well as completely immoral - and absolutely NOT the same thing as a consenting gay couple, to compare the two is absolutely disgusting.

Attilathehun · 19/10/2012 12:22

I wonder if the couple just follow the teachings of parts of the Bible or all of it?

Like not eating Shellfish and pork. Or is it just the rules for non-married people?

Mrsjay · 19/10/2012 12:22

What if a Muslim man visiting from outside this country turned up at a small family b & b with his obviously under-age child bride, and was refused a double room because of it?

OH STOP IT seriously shush

EmpressOfTheSevenScreams · 19/10/2012 12:22

Riiiiight, Cozy. So putting the gay issue aside for a moment, if a shop or restaurant didn't want to serve DW or DD because they're black that would be fine?

Or if a garage decided they were only going to sell petrol to men because they didn't believe women should be driving?

Geegee, that would break UK law. Adult gay couples are legal.

Moogstera, they've admitted to not always checking whether straight couples were married.

Disco76 · 19/10/2012 12:23

Don't think b&b owners should have to pay £3k - crime victims get less, and if they can have gay only resorts they can have hetrosexual only resorts too! bit.ly/VmWRcF

Collaborate · 19/10/2012 12:23

If they don't really like people much they should maybe consider running an online business from home rather than a B&B.

Kewcumber · 19/10/2012 12:24

Jesus (no pun intended) I'm glad that discrimination laws operate in this country, my eyes have been opened by this thread to how many people think its OK to run a business but be able to discriminate against whomever you like provided you can dress it up as a religious issue.

Cozy9 · 19/10/2012 12:25

There's no law about being offended.

Business owners should be free to do business with whoever they wish. We will never have a prejudice free country as long as there is legislation to stop people discriminating. The only prejudice-free country is one where people can be as prejudiced as they want, but choose not to be.

trockodile · 19/10/2012 12:25

Gee gee-apart from the fact that they would probably assume this (hypothetical Muslim man) was with his daughter and not even ask, the law of this country is that under 16 yr olds should not be having sex with overage men/women. I would expect them to contact police/social services if they felt unhappy with what they witnessed as they would to any other crime.

NotQuintAtAllOhNo · 19/10/2012 12:26

If they are so judgmental, they are in the wrong profession.

FreakySnuckerCupidStunt · 19/10/2012 12:26

There's no law about being offended.

Actually, there currently is. Which is why people are being arrested for posting offensive comments on the internet.

Cozy9 · 19/10/2012 12:26

Kewcumber : You shouldn't have to dress it up as a religious issue. It should be the right of management to refuse service to anyone they do not wish to do business with, for any reason they see fit. It's one of the basic tenets of freedom.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 19/10/2012 12:27

He can hold as many prejudiced beliefs as he likes. He's just not allowed to inconvenience gay people by refusing goods or services because of their sexual orientation. In many situations I don't care what people are thinking, I care what they're doing and any impact on me.

Kewcumber · 19/10/2012 12:27

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have looked into whether gay-only hotels are illegal also but as no-one has made a complaint the position hasn't been tested.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 19/10/2012 12:28

Cozy, they can refuse business to anyone they want. But they cannot do it because of the other persons race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability...
Such a pain to have to pander to these disabled lot. Can't they just go somewhere else?

Narked · 19/10/2012 12:30

I do wonder why if you truss it up as 'religious belief' it is seen as acceptable (by some people) to discriminate.

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