to want to sack my wedding photographer as I have discovered he is a UKIP supporter and is against gay marriage?

[Jen99]

We are getting married later in the year and we booked a photographer after a recommendation from a close friend. She knows him from her church and he has photograhed several of her friends' weddings. We were happy with him at first, seemed very professional, great photos and albums etc. He invited us to be friends on FB on both his personal and professional pages, which we accepted. However I began to get quite concerned about his posts, moaning about how much work he has and he just comes across as quite arrogant. He has also liked 2 links on FB, one to show that he is a UKIP supporter and two that he is against gay marriage.

Both me and DP are having serious reservations about him and I really don't want to pay someone who's beliefs are so fundamentally against ours. However we will more than likey lose our deposit
I don't doubt that he is a good photographer but he will be with us for most of our day and don't want to feel uncomfortable around hin. He is booked for the bridal prep on the morning of the wedding so will be spending several hours with myself and my family prior to the wedding.
Really not sure what to do

[ThePinkOcelot]

FFS!!! What has his beliefs got to do with his ability to take good photos. Surely all you should be concerned about is how good a photo he takes. A bit unprofessional to add you to his personal FB page but that is all! This is as ridiculous as him saying he wouldn't take your photos because you don't support UKIP!!
Are you old enough to get married?! You don't sound it to me if you haven't yet realised that not everyone thinks the same! Grow up!!

[Brucietheshark]

Yes, I'd call you names rebecca.

[LoveSardines]

lol @ recent posts

discrimination laws in relation to goods and services are relevant for the suppliers of goods and services and say that they must not refuse to supply said goods and services based on protected characteristics

So, recently publicised breach of these laws include:

• B&B owners refusing to put gay couple in same room
  
• Letting agents promising landlords that they would only let their property to white clients
  
  The laws are NOT there to impose on consumers who they must purchase goods and services from! Consumers can (and do) choose based on a variety of reasons which include moral, ethical & political concerns.
  
  For example.
  
  

• People boycott Nestle (due to baby formula) and Amazon (due to working conditions and tax position)
  

- People choose community schools over religious ones as they do not agree with the religion / schools having a religious theme
- People decide not to buy animal meat from producers who have been exposed as cruel
- People donate to one political party over another, due to their views

The list is endless and none of this is illegal! What a laughable statement.

The photographer supports UKIP and has expressed opposition to gay marriage (which is fucking stupid of him as a wedding photographer).

OP is perfectly within her rights to retract her contract with him on ethical grounds. There is NO LAW in the UK that says individuals must give their money to racist homophobes.

Also. Has it occurred to the people squeaking that his views will act as an INCENTIVE to many to hire him? Lots of people are bigots, and will be keen to hire him. See it as advertising. He will GAIN more business than he loses by expressing his views, so I don't think people need to worry about him

[LoveSardines]

I am also fairly certain that "supporting UKIP" and "thinking gay people's relationships are inferior" are not protected characteristics under law.

Protected characteristics include things like race, religion, sexuality. Just FYI.

[Apatite1]

I'd sack him so fast his head would spin.

[EdithWeston]

It would not be illegal to boycott him if they'd done that in the first place.

But this isn't a boycott. It's breaking a contract with someone they have alread hired.

They propose doing so on grounds which amount to discrimination on their part. They did not have to hire him in the first place, agreed. But having chosen to do so, unless they have evidence of actual wrongdoing (conviction or outstanding case for withholding services on discriminatory grounds), then they are the ones who are displaying unfairness.

Message here: you are on dodgy grounds in the first place if you select service providers based on issues covered by discrimination legislation. If you are going to do it anyway, then as LoveSardines says, do so at the selection stage as if for a boycott.

Once contract is set, things change. You can break a contract (and face penalty clauses) but if you are found to break a contract for discriminatory reasons then further action can be taken against you.

[EdithWeston]

Opposition to gay marriage is within the mainstreams of several of the largest world religions. There is every chance that a protected characteristic is a feature here.

If he refused to act for a gay couple, he would be open to prosecution.

But if those circumstances have never arisen, and you have no evidence that would stand up in a tribunal that he would refuse, then breaking a contract with him on the basis that he mentions aspects of his faith is potentially actionable.

[GoblinLittleOwl]

Quite clear. He does not share your beliefs, which distresses you, therefore you have to make a sacrifice for your principles, which is, losing your deposit. Cancel your booking and give him your reasons.
Or am I being deeply cynical naive, and this is yet another post against UKIP?

[Rhine]

Rebecca, I think the only uptight idiot on this discussion is you. Your views are disgusting, offensive and outdated. I don't care if that offends your Christian beliefs, I think your beliefs are load of old bollocks and you can quote me on that.

And yes, I would call you a racist!

[OiYou]

loving how people are quoting the gay couple at the guest house when we all know they targeted the guest house owners based on their beliefs they did it before and will continue to do it i personally think that kind of behaviour is just as bad

Can you elaborate on how proving someone you believe to be discriminating against people is "just as bad" as discriminating against people?

Anyone else notice that there is a certain type of exclamation abusing, ranty Oh my god!!! What is wrong with you rabid lefty loons!! poster that also always seems to vote UKIP?

[Rebecca2014]

Rhine I am not an Christian so I do not know where you got that from?

You do not know my views, you just know I support UKIP so why am I disgusting, offensive, racist and outdated?

[OiYou]

Because you vote for a party full of disgusting outdated offensive racists?

[OiYou]

tbf it's an easy conclusion to come to

[Rhine]

Well why did you call the OP an "uptight idiot" for being offended over this mans views on gay marriage then?

[echt]

Er... Rebecca, you support a political party which espouses racist/homophobic views, so unless you'd like to say which views you disassociate yourself from, then yeah, right I'd say you're not nice.

As for having to hide, and scared of being attacked, well I see little sign of it in your posts.

[Rebecca2014]

Do you understand how pathetic you sound?

Why don't you people think about the reasons why people are voting for UKIP instead of jumping to attacks.

[Rebecca2014]

Rhine because that man attends church and he is an Christian so it is properly due to religious views he has that opinion on gay marriage.

In the UK I was brought up to respect all different religious views even If I don't agree with them.

[gamerchick]

This thread is hillarious.. so much spitting and frothing

OP you're being ridiculous IMO but it is your right, just as it is his to be a knob online and he has acted like a knob.

If you can't separate somebodys work from the person then maybe knock up a checklist for your next photographer. But don't expect you to get your deposit back.. it would be cheeky of you to ask for it and he would be within his rights to withhold it.

[MrsGoslingWannabe]

Why all the hate towards UKIP? They want to be out of Europe mainly for financial reasons. Its not about race!

[MrsGoslingWannabe]

Rhine are you this horrid in real life?

[Rhine]

It's not true that all Christians are homophobic and against gay marriage BTW. There are more liberal Christians out there who don't have a problem with it, presumably this man is one of the more happy clappy Evangelicals types.

[Rhine]

In what way am I hateful MrsGosling?

[OiYou]

So you respect people's religions? Then maybe give UKIP a miss as they seem to hate Islam for a start.

[Timetoask]

He is entitled to his views, your are discriminating him. You are going to use him as a photographer, not as a spiritual guide¡¡¡¡¡

[OiYou]

he is entitled to discriminate, but she isn't entitled to discriminate in return?


Is this like "it's free speech to be racist" but if you call me a racist asshole you're stiifling my free speech?