to think that if B&B's can state 'no kids' then why not 'no gay people'...?

[guiltyandfedup]

I think BOTH are wrong by the way.....BUT as far as I know children are citizens and should be entitled to 'human rights' the same as the rest of society. But often DP and I have found that they will not 'accept' children- what grounds have they to discriminate against them?

The reasons given are 'the comfort of other guests etc etc'. Well in that case why shouldn't B and B owners be able to argue that having gay people in the establishment could cause 'discomfort' to other guests or the oners themselves if it is a total taboo within their cultural or religious beliefs.

Juast wanted to guage others opinions as its been in the news a lot today but no-one seems to have noticed the paralel!

I think this world has thousands of B&Bs, resorts, hotels, plenty for everyone, and if one of them does not want kids there, then good for them, I'll go take mine somewhere else.

And if I get a babysitter for the weekend for a romantic getaway, perhaps I too will seek out an establishment that bans kids.

Whining about discrimination in this instance, and comparing it to discriminating against gays (a real human rights issue), reminds me of the Catholic cardinal last week who compared the media attention on the Vatican lately as being akin to the anti-semitism through the ages. No contest.

Chipping, if you having guests to stay in you home, you can set your rules. If you are operating as a business and charging people money for a service, people expect minimum standards such as clean sheets, nice breakfast and a lack of blatant discrimination.

Actually, as a minor aside to this one, a (female) mate & I used to regularly travel to watch bands.

We'd book a cheap hotel, & whoever booked would say something like: 'I'd like a twin room please, for myself & a friend'.

We'd quite regularly get given a double instead, especially with big chains - no big deal, except I snore. No one ever greeted us on arrival with 'aaargh! Two women! & I've put you in a double! Do try not to, erm, mess the sheets up'.

However, dh also used to regularly book twin rooms for gig-going, with his brother.

He once got a double room by mistake, & when two blokes turned up - the receptionist was overcome with confusion & embarrassment. She hastened to change the booking & upgrade them to two singles - even though they explained that they were brothers & actually, had no real problem with sharing a bed - they'd be out all evening & then sharing a bottle of Scotch back at the hotel, so no big deal.

Going from other friends' experiences with the hospitality industry, it does seem to be a not uncommon theme - two men cannot be left to share a bed, unless they've specifically booked a double. But two women can.

Not sure if it's Queen Victoria syndrome, or concern for the sheets. Very odd, anyway.

nb. 'big chains' as in 'big chain hotels, off Laterooms'. Not 'double beds with big chains'....

coldtits " If a child starts screaming unintelligably about "Mr Foo is COMING" nobody gives the child a shot of thorazine and a white coat."
ROFL

ravenAK, that reminds me of something we overheard at a hotel deck one time.
3 guys on a trip had booked 3 rooms, the hotel overbooked or something and there were only 2 rooms. They were all in a tizzy (the 3 guys, not the clerk) over who would have to share a room. They were getting the hotel to call all over the place to see if there were 3 rooms available anywhere (they're were not).(this was around 11 at night)
It was silly to see how "horrified" the thought of sharing a room made them. The rooms had 2 queen beds each, so they would not have to share a bed. Weird.

ravenAK, that reminds me of something we overheard at a hotel desk one time.
3 guys on a trip had booked 3 rooms, the hotel overbooked or something and there were only 2 rooms. They were all in a tizzy (the 3 guys, not the clerk) over who would have to share a room. They were getting the hotel to call all over the place to see if there were 3 rooms available anywhere (there were not).(this was around 11 at night)
It was silly to see how "horrified" the thought of sharing a room made them. The rooms had 2 queen beds each, so they would not have to share a bed. Weird.

ChippingIn
nobody is obliged to run a business from their home. If you run a B&B you must abide by the laws of the land which state that no adult may be discriminated against, and refused goods and services, based on race, gender, disability or sexual orientation.

The fact that the premises are also the person's home is irrelevant. If hoteliers object to gay people in their home they must move their premises elsewhere and stop running a business from their home.

Do you really, really think it would be ok for a person to state 'no blacks' in their B&B because they were a big old racist and didn't want black people in their home?

Children can be noisy, disruptive and have appalling table manners. As far as I know most gay people don't. Other people feeling 'discomfort' at their mere presence is their problem and no-one should pander to them.

I read this thread with interest as part of me thought it was disgusting for anyone to be turned away because of their sexuality but another part of me thought if you're running a B&B from your own home then you should be able to decide who stays. I've now decided I agree with those posters who've said if you choose to run a B&B from your home then you have to do it in accordance with the law. Incidentally I have 2 children & like nothing better than getting away from them for the odd grown up night away with dh. Children are irritating & noisy even when they're behaving themselves, it's just how children are no matter how well brought up they might be.

There is no parallel, that's why nobody has noticed it.

Actually find it rather offensive that the question is even being asked, though I can see why it might be in a society that doesn't actively promote the truth about homosexuality...it's all rather taboo, even now.

shit comparison

I dont agree BUT kids can be seen as messy, noisy and might need special sleeping stuff that a B&B might not be willing to provide

they might be targeted at the elderly

I dont agree, BUT you cannot compate the 2

there is a website called coupleswithoutkids.com where you can find accommodation that does not accept kids. It is rather a large market segment.

I doubt B&Bswithoutgays.com wiould ever be allowed.

Ericnorthmansmistress - actually, I do yes. I believe if you are running your business, from your home, then you should have the right to accept the custom you choose.

I have nothing against gay people, black people, children or whatever else this has been compared to on this thread. However, I believe that if I were to run a B&B from my home then I should be able to chose my custom and if that is only one-arm, blonde, dentists who believe in the afterlife - then that's my business... we are talking about people sleeping/staying in your own home - whether money passes hands or not, I maintain the choice of guest should be the homeowners.

Well, you can believe that as much as you like - but it is actually against the law to discriminate against people on terms or race, gender, disability or sexuality. And while that law stands then everryone who runs a business has to abide by it.

Hmm... what can i say that hasnt already been said.

If you want to take your children away go to a child-friendly B&B?

Gay people are adults. No more likely to make noise when having 'relations' than straight people.

If my partner and I want to get away from the kids for a weekend we definitely dont want to spend it with someone elses!! Also with 'relations' in mind, it works both ways. Not really fair for kids to be taken away to share in some other couples dirty weekend!

ChippingIn - the point is that money does change hands. That's the difference between having guests and running a B&B. One is a business, one isn't

ChippingIn - why should it be OK to discriminate freely if you're running your business from your home, but not OK if you're running it away from home?

Either it's OK to discriminate or it's not. And clearly it is not, as the law thankfully states.

If you only want to share your home with certain vetted and approved members of the public, then don't set up as a B&B. if you want to make money from home, then bake cakes or flog children's tat or summat.

Simples.

I agree with the people who've mentioned that straight people have bum-sex too. If you open up your house as a B&B you take in all sorts of people and they can get up to all kinds of thing. What do you do? Ban old people in case they wet the beds? Ban couples in case they leave (God forfend) semen stains on your nice white sheets? Get real. They just don't like gay people and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with such ludicrous discrimination.

In terms of comparing it to kids? That's quite spurious imo. I love going to pubs where they don't have kids. I like going to B&Bs and guest-houses where kids aren't welcome. I appreciate child-free pleasures when I can get them, because my life does not revolve around everyone else's children any more than it revolves around my own. I like to have a choice.

I can choose whether I want a modern or swirly carpeted room, by looking at the pictures. I can choose whether I want a family room or a double and I can choose whether or not the atmosphere will be adult or child oriented. Seems fair to me.

I shouldn't, however, be able to choose whether I like my fellow guests sexual preferences. That would be taking things just a leetle too far!

LadyBiscuit - I do know what constitutes a business and what doesn't! What I am saying is, that irrespective of whether they are paying guests (a business) or non paying guests (not a business), it is still your home and you should be allowed to dictate who sleeps under your roof.

5DollarShake - because it is still, also, your home, you are still sleeping there, living there, eating there. If you are not comfortable sharing it with gay people, children, coloured people, white people, people with other religious beliefs, brunettes or whatever - then you should be to make that choice.

If I wanted to run a B&B, if I wanted to run it for people of a certain 'type' why would that be so wrong? It's no different to running a club to cater to a certain 'type' of person or a religious premises to cater to only a specific 'type' of religion.

FOR EXAMPLE: If I want to run a B&B, only for vegetarian families - why should I be made to accept couples without children or meat eaters?

I am really sorry if this isn't appropriate.

But is anyone else imagining two well dressed, adult men (or women!) doing all the things that people have brought up that children do and gay people don't?

Sorry, can't stop giggling, I blame the hormones...

Children are not the customers though, are they? They're not being discriminated against for not being able to receive a certain service because they're not actually paying for that service anyway. And if they were turning up without adults () the hotel/B&B wouldn't be insured to care for them. So it's a totally different situation.

Plus I think it's absurd that any landlord/hotelier feels entitled to turn away gay couples because them having sex offends their religious beliefs, yet I assume they don't turn away unmarried couples for the same reason?

Because it's discrimination.

If you are homophobic, don't open a B&B. If you exclude B&Bs from the legislation then there will be all sorts of other types of business clamouring to be considered for exemption too. I could say that if I ran a small shop that I felt intimidated by gay people. Or I feel uncomfortable advising someone on their will because they're gay and I don't want to be alone with them. Can you see how it would be a slippery slope?

I hate the idea that bigots want to make money from renting out their rooms but think they should be above the law. It's disgraceful

does anyone know if the Sandals ads (you know the couples resorts in the Caribbean) still state in print at the bottom of the TV ad "couple equals one man and one woman"
??
i was always quite surprised that was legal, but it's been a while since i saw the ads, does anyone know if they still do/are allowed to stipulate that?

ChippingIn. When you choose to run your home as a guest house, you must adhere to certain rules, since you are turning your home into a business. You must abide by fire safety rules, building regulations and all sorts of beurocracy because you are letting people stay in your home as paying guests, not out of the goodness of your heart. It is called a business transaction and then this means that you just happen to live in your place of business. So this "you have a choice about whom stays in your own home" tosh doesn't really hold much water.

Plus, if the whole Christian mindset is essentially "God loves us all", then I don't consider this pair of middle-englanders to be very Christian at all.