Comments on: Gay couple sue Christian hotel for banning them

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:13:42 +0000

I think Buddha said it the best, these Christians sure aren't like their Jesus.

By: Iris

Iris — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:32:48 +0000

Thanks for that link, BSE. How shocking to actually see that on the website. Disgusting.
And their stupid amending of it cuts no ice as they define marriage as being between a 'man and a woman' – so heterosexual, then, in all but name.

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By: harry

harry — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:11:24 +0000

Worth having a look at the reports on tripadvisor. This is typical:-

"Awful hotel, old, tired and dirty: our bed was lumpy and the cover was filthy, the shower leaked and the breakfast was inedible – we didn't risk dinner. The place is crammed with bibles, religious texts and statements saying that they only let rooms to married couples – so take your wedding certificate with you! Mind you, more than one night here would test most marriages severely."

I don't think they'll be in business much longer!

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By: PCG, Germany

PCG, Germany — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:38:26 +0000

The owners are in big trouble, since they exclude far more than gays, they exclude everyone who is not married as well as everyone (married or not) other than from the white race. The hotel should be shut down and demolished, that's my suggestion.

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By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:06 +0000

Blantant infraction of the Equalities Act (sexual orientation) 2007.

Hope they get sued to high heaven – because God is currently going, "don't look at me. I didn't tell these people to be haters."

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By: Flapjack

Flapjack — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:37:25 +0000

While there is a principle at stake, and the gay couple involved should persue it, I'm also getting what I call a 'Groucho Marx' vibe from this… that 'wanting to join a club that wouldn't have me as a member'.
Remember, you're paying hard cash for this hotel, so your money would be funding a bigoted enterprise that hates you and resents your very presence. They'd be staring daggers at you for the duration whether you got your way or not. Is that what you really want? Doesn't sound like a romantic weekend break to me.
By all means point out to potential customers that they are homophobic bigots, but fighting for the right to stay there seems like a phyrric victory to me. Better to vote with your feet.

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By: Sister Mary Clarence

Sister Mary Clarence — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:28:24 +0000

I notice that the hotel has three stars from the English Tourist Council. It begs the questions how, and should they continue to have (maybe a job for someone!).

Weirdly the link given takes you to http://www.wisegrowth.org.uk rather than the English tourist Council

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By: GAPOI

GAPOI — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:22:40 +0000

I really hope this couple win.

About 5 years ago my partner and I booked a double room in a Mallaig hotel for our holidays in the West of Scotland. Two days before we were due to arrive, we were contacted by the hotel and told us it was suddenly full, despite us booking the room several months in advance. I can only presume that this was because of our sexual orientation. We were offered an alternative hotel accommodation nearby in Morar – a room with 2 single beds! Funnily enough, when we walked in the hotel, we saw a big framed photo of the Pope (John Paul II) in the hallway. It was at this point we realised we'd stumbled into a bible-bashing and bigot terrority. Needless to say we haven't gone back to Mallaig since.

I was raging that the original hotel could treat me and my partner in this way but there was nothing we could do because there wasn't any equality laws in place that could protect us.

So good luck to Martin and Steven

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By: BSE

BSE — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:52:00 +0000

Where would we be without the waybackwhenmachine to help fill in some of those memory holes people think exist on the internet…

http://web.archive.org/web/20071102161049/www.chymorvah.co.uk/bookingform.html

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By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:20:22 +0000

They have recenetly changed their website comment:

Here at Chymorvah we have few rules, but please note that as Christians we have a deep regard for marriage(being the union of one man to one woman for life to the exclusion of all others).

Therefore, although we extend to all a warm welcome to our home, our double bedded accommodation is not available to unmarried couples – Thank you.

They have removed any reference to the word heterosexual. NMot realy a shocking amendment, but I guess they think they are being less discrinatory – probably on advice the legal representation they are paying for…

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By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:16:05 +0000

Turn it the other way around and refuse to serve Christians. See what kind of discrimination and protests we are subjected to then. Same pie, different filling. They need to understand they are not inviting people into their HOME (where they can chose and dictate what they like), but their BUSINESS, where they need to follow the laws of the land. If they want to selectively interpret the bible, then they need to do it in their own time.

Oh, and another thing – can anyone explain how letting gays get married actually harms heterosexuals? They can still get married, have sex, raise kids etc, etc, so I fail to understand what they are worried about?

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By: Eddy

Eddy — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:58:24 +0000

Bravo, Martin Hall and Steven Paddy! You MUST win. It's important.

What we all ought to be doing, of course, is seeking out all other such homophobic businesses and putting them all to the test. Let's whip the lot of them into line and into the 21st century!

Here's a tricky one for you. My partner and I went to a Thai Restaurant several years ago and detected that we were not approved of, though the food was served in reasonably cordial fashion. Once we got home the farting started. Fast, furious, stinking, and never-ending, right through the entire night. We did not sleep a wink. The room was like a gas-chamber. It did not occur to us until about six months ago that was almost certainly deliberate. The folk in the kitchen put a vast amount of something horrendous in our food. Needless to say we never went back. But we never went back because we did not want to go through the same experience again. But how would you report a hate-crime like that, eh? Some heterosexuals are as crafty as hell.

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By: Rob Neal

Rob Neal — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:56:50 +0000

Well it was only a matter of time before this old chestnut reared it's ugly head. I just hope the couple have enough money to fund the lawsuit and set a legal precedent, whilst hopefully putting these idiots using religion as a reason for their homophobic attitudes.

If you can't run a business according to the law of the land, don't run one at all.

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By: Matt Pepprell

Matt Pepprell — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:45:53 +0000

"We have few rules but please note that out of a deep regard for marriage we prefer to let double accommodation to heterosexual married couples only" – quote from the hotel's website

Isn't that like, discrimination? I read in the Daily Bitch that they (the hotel owners) think such a policy is not discriminating in any way! I hope Martin Hall and Stephen Paddy succeed in their court claim

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By: Ian Laughlin

Ian Laughlin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:25:58 +0000

Doubtless assorted anti-gay organisations will be working with the proprietors to finance their case. In addition, we can expect a publicity drive on the part of the Bulls to recast themselves as victims of the "international powerful gay lobby". One is to hope that if need be, Mssrs Hall and Paddy get the financial support of LGBT groups in progressing their litigation.

In the meantime, we can ourselves exercise our own free speech to play the Bulls at their own game. Know anyone – gay or straight – heading to Kernow/Cornwall this Summer? Suggest a gay run B&B instead. Ask local Tourist Information Offices to make it clear that this business is operated by a particular group of religionist. Advise atheist groups, pagans and liberal Christian denominations that the business is hostile to their beliefs and way of life and that they may wish to consider elsewhere for their holidays.

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By: George

George — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:12:17 +0000

Its a load of rubbish for the hotel owners to claim this is their policy based on Christian beliefs. There are plenty of gay christian couples around including one of my best friends and her partner. As for saying the equality act infringes on their religious freedoms, grrr.

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By: Anders

Anders — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:09:12 +0000

This stupid out-of-touch pair are dead in the water and their hotel business could be damaged.
Ho hum, welcome to the 21st century folks

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By: Brian Burton

Brian Burton — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:36:41 +0000

If the Gay couple have a valid Civil Partnership document issued by the Registrar, then they should win any action they take in the Courts.

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By: Iris

Iris — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:33:47 +0000

I just checked out their website and their policy says that you have to be married – and then goes on to define what marriage is according to their beliefs – between one man and one woman for life. So they check every heterosexual couple's marriage certificates, do they? (after all no straight couple ever book in as 'Mr and Mrs Smith', right?) And I presume they don't accept re-married divorcees either? And what about transexuals? Do you have to prove your gender is acceptable to them before you check-in.
Ridiculous!

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By: Sister Mary Clarence

Sister Mary Clarence — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:27:59 +0000

I can't help but feel that Mr Ellis is taking money off this couple God-bothing idiots under false pretenses. They've got about f*ck all chance of winning with that tired old argument, it has in only a short space of time been lost again and again

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