Discrimination against gay people in the workplace will be treated more harshly by the courts after two landmark judgments yesterday.

Lillian Ladele, the registrar who refused to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies “as a matter of religious conscience”, lost her case against Islington council in north London. And Stephen English, a married man who was driven out of his job after being repeatedly called a “faggot” by colleagues had an employment tribunal ruling that he had not been the victim of sexual harassment overturned by the court of appeal.

The employment appeal tribunal ruled that Islington council had been entitled to discipline Ladele and threaten her with dismissal, even though her conduct was the result of “her strong and genuinely held Christian beliefs”.

The council had been entitled to the view that “it was unacceptable discrimination for the claimant to refuse to participate in civil partnership ceremonies. It offended some gay employees and involved discriminating against third parties making use of the services of the council.” Although the tribunal acknowledged that changes in social attitudes towards gay people could be “genuinely perplexing” for some religious groups, it ruled that it was proportionate for the council to require its registrars to conduct civil partnerships. Ladele, whose case was financed by the Christian Institute’s Legal Defence Fund, said she would appeal.

  See Landmark rulings strengthen gay rights in workplace
guardian.co.uk, UK

PHOENIX – Weeks after voters approved amending Arizona’s Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman, gay-rights activists are looking toward 2010.

A man who champions equality for gays in the United Kingdom has traveled to Arizona to begin a drive for a ballot initiative that would establish civil partnerships, which since 2005 have allowed same-sex couples to legally register their relationships. “We’re not fighting for marriage; we’re fighting for equal rights,” said Gino Meriano, whose UK business, Pink Weddings, arranges commitment ceremonies and provides free legal advice for gay couples wishing to establish civil partnerships.

Steen Lawson, co-founder of Marriage Equality USA’s new Arizona chapter, said civil unions don’t go far enough. His group wants same-sex couples to have the same rights as heterosexual couples who wish to marry.

“Since government uses the word marriage, we must fight for marriage,” Lawson said.

Meriano, Lawson and others are looking for a next step in response to Proposition 102, which Arizona voters approved Nov. 4. Given that the initiative amended Arizona’s Constitution, making a legal challenge difficult, opponents of 102 say any next step likely would be a ballot proposition.

 See After Prop 102, advocates evaluate push for same-sex marriage …
Tucson Citizen – Tucson,AZ,USA

Three years after the UK’s first Civil Partnership ceremony took place, research suggests that there’s been more than one gay marriage a day in Greater Manchester.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 allowed gay and lesbian couples to enter into Civil Partnerships and share the same legal rights as married couples.

The Manchester Evening News suggests that there have been 1,365 same-sex civil ceremonies in Greater Manchester – averaging more than one a day. Most couples tied the pink knot in Manchester – with 659 ceremonies held so far.

Other gay wedding hot spots in the region include Salford with 115 ceremonies since 2005, and Stockport with 108. Trafford and Bolton were both close to the hundred mark, with 97 an 91 ceremonies respectively. While Oldham had 71 ceremonies, Rochdale (65), Wigan (63), Tameside (52), and Bury (44).

On the national front, earlier this year PinkNews.co.uk, reported that less than 1% of Civil Partnerships end in ‘divorce’.

Between December 2005 and December 2007 there were 24,629 Civil Partnerships in England and Wales and less than 250 have ended in dissolution.

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, found the same sex marriage ‘divorce’ statistics most encouraging: “This is a small number and it confirms that many people entering into civil partnerships take it very seriously indeed.”

In line with the burgeoning numbers of couples getting Civil Partnerships, much of the the gay marriage business is booming.

See Over one gay marriage a day…it’s the Greater Manchester way.
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation – Manchester,USA