THE GUARDIAN: Susanne Wilkinson, who refused to let Michael Black and John Morgan stay at her guesthouse, told to pay couple £3,600
The Christian owner of a bed and breakfast has been ordered to pay damages after a court found her refusal to let a gay couple stay in one of her double rooms amounted to direct discrimination and a breach of equality law.
Michael Black and John Morgan brought a civil case against Susanne Wilkinson, who owns the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Cookham, Berkshire, after they were refused accommodation at the premises in March 2010 despite having made a reservation and paid a deposit.
In a verdict delivered on Thursday by recorder Claire Moulder at Reading county court, Wilkinson was ordered to pay £3,600 in damages to the couple, who said they were shocked and embarrassed and felt "like lepers" after being told they were not welcome at the B&B because their same-sex relationship was against the owner's convictions.
The verdict found that Black and Morgan, from Brampton, Cambridgeshire, suffered direct discrimination by being turned away from the guesthouse because they were gay. Moulder said that by refusing the couple access, Wilkinson had "treated them less favourably than she would treat unmarried heterosexual couples in the same circumstances".
In a statement, Wilkinson – whose legal defence was paid for by the Christian Institute, a national charity – said she was giving "serious consideration" to an appeal against the ruling. » | Lizzy Davies | Thursday, October 18, 2012
THE GUARDIAN: Scotland to legalise same-sex marriages in church and civil ceremonies: Draft legislation will allow gay and lesbian couples to marry with the same rights as heterosexual couples » | Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent | Wednesday, July 25, 2012
THE GUARDIAN: Christianity does not sit in opposition to progressive equality legislation: There is no issue of principle where LGBT and religious rights are counterposed, despite George Carey's assumptions » | Maria Exall | Saturday, April 21, 2012
