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Christians sued for allowing ‘hetersexuals only’ in their B&B


A landmark case is being brought against the Christian proprietors of a seaside B&B for their refusal to permit a gay couple to share a double bed.

Devout couple Peter and Hazelmary Bull expressed to civil partners Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy that allowing the men to sleep together would be “an affront to their faith.”

Instead, they provided the couple with separate single rooms, which led the couple to leave and report the incident to authorities.

At their guesthouse in Cornwall, the Bulls adhere to a strict policy permitting only married heterosexual couples to share accommodations.

The gay couple argues that the refusal constitutes “direct discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”

Leveraging the 2007 Equality Act Regulations, they are seeking up to £5,000 in damages in a significant case that will commence on Monday at Bristol County Court.

The outcome of the hearing could shape the limitations that other B&B and hotel owners can impose on their guests.

The legal fees for Martyn and Steven are being covered by the Government-funded Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The defence for Mr and Mrs Bull is being supported by the Christian Institute, a charity dedicated to safeguarding the religious freedom of Christians.

Spokesman Mike Judge indicated that the case could have “far-reaching ramifications for religious liberty.”

He stated, “This case is about liberty of conscience. This guesthouse is the home of Mr and Mrs Bull.”

“They possess rights as well, and should not be compelled to act against their sincerely held religious beliefs within their own establishment.”

“This Christian couple is facing judgment for their beliefs. Equality laws are being wielded as a weapon rather than providing protection.”

Mr Bull, at 70 years old, and his wife, aged 66, have enforced their “married only” policy since acquiring the Chymorvah hotel in Marazion, near Penzance, Cornwall, back in 1986.

Their website notes, “We have few rules but please be aware that out of a deep respect for marriage, we prefer to allow double accommodations only to heterosexual married couples.”

Mrs Bull, a great-grandmother, mentioned that this policy results in even her brother and his female partner being required to stay in separate rooms during their visits to the hotel.

A representative for the gay rights organization Stonewall remarked, “We anticipate that the hotel will revise its policy to align with equality, contemporary values, and legal standards.”

However, the current reality is quite peculiar. Ideally, there should not be a Gay Community, but rather a community where all individuals coexist peacefully; sadly, this is not the case.

Conversely, Christian individuals, irrespective of their biases, should have the liberty to accept whomever they choose, as it is their business and they are entitled to enforce rules that serve their interests. Moreover, why would a gay person wish to stay at their B&B, providing them with money while feeling uncomfortable?

They could have avoided this lawsuit. It only causes those who harbor negative feelings toward LGBTQ+ individuals to retreat further from accepting such realities.

Individuals are entitled to their own perspectives. The new Liberal approach must encompass this understanding, as they frequently remind us about acceptance.

It appears that the so-called ‘yoghurt-knitting’ Liberals are, in fact, the least liberal individuals of all.

By Milo Johnson

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