Comments on: London Registrar sues for right not to "marry" gay and lesbian couples

By: Kevin in USA

Kevin in USA — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:59:10 +0000

It really bothers me when a black woman is a bigot! Maybe the white registrars need to sue not to marry blacks. See how that sits with her!

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: David S

David S — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:21:24 +0000

I note with interest that the registrar is black. Maybe we ought to tell her to wear a bag over her head so we can't see her "blackness". Maybe then she will understand what it is like to be discriminated against. Honestly, this sort of santimonious attitude makes me feel so angry.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:44:26 +0000

"Discrimination on religious grounds is illegal"

And, Ed B, so is discrimination of gay people in relation to services, or are you saying that its okay to pick and choose the laws that suit you? This small woman is just being asked to do her job within the confines of the law. If she can't so that job, she should quit. Using the bible and "faith" as a means to discriminate is not a valid argument, no more then using the bible to discriminate against black people or women. Time to grow up Ed and realise that your brand of bigotry is illegal, no matter what warped view you think you have of the bible.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Ed B.

Ed B. — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:43:27 +0000

Hold On! This lady is only asking that her Council respects her faith in the way they share ceremonies between registrars. As a retired officer who conducted over 10,000 ceremonies I would have expected the same condieration. Discrimination on religious grounds is illegal – unless I misread it and Christians are not included.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Adrian-T

Adrian-T — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:35:01 +0000

Robert, I am delighted to hear about your includive church. Though, I wish you more enlightened Christians would be a bit more aggressive in getting your message out. And above all, clearly explain how homosexual relations are fine from a theological, rather than a humanitarian, perspective. Not in gay times, but in rags like the Catholic Herald or the Daily Mail etc.

I have to take my hat off to Christian Voice and others for their media relations skills, always offering press releases and comments to the newspapers etc, and making themselves look bigger and more influential than they are, in the process. Who needs richard dawkins, when you've got the likes of stephen green, joel edwards, cormac murphy o'connor and the bishop of carlisle, to put rational thinking people off religion?

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:37:46 +0000

I'm one of the many Christians whose understanding of their faith tradition mandates them to promote the human rights of all people, including LGBT sisters and brothers. Please don't associate Christianity in general with the fears and prejudices of those who decline to bring historical or cultural criticism to their reading of the Bible. There are plenty of Churches that openly challenge discrimination against persons on the grounds of sexual orientation. See Inclusive Church at http://www.inclusivechurch2.net/Gay-and-Lesbian-d455bd9

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Robert, ex-pat Brit

Robert, ex-pat Brit — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:46:47 +0000

A big thank you to Bill, Michael, Jason, Anon, Ciaran, Adrian T and to everyone who commented on Bob's misguided view even though I respect his right to say what he believes, please or offend. That's what democracy is all about.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:38:08 +0000

Let me guess Bob, you're one of these "Christian" twits who thinks everyone should do everything you say to validate your own petty belief system? The word like "lifestyle" gave it away. Do you really think we "choose" this life? Coffee-smelling-moment for you here Bob, we're born gay. Its not a lifestyle. Rather like the way you bigots I assume were born idiots. Now, as we tolerate your ignorance, its time you started doing the same, no?

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:32:42 +0000

Sounds like you're the fascist there Bob, not Robert. The choice of words like "lifestyle" is the give-away.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Nathan

Nathan — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:46:40 +0000

In my opinion, Chris' comment about the vegan waiter really sums it up and although it makes commenting on my part superfluous, I couldn't resist a "Hear! Hear!"

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: chris

chris — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:06:29 +0000

This story reminds me of a friend of mine who is a waiter, and a vegan. He has decided that he doesn't eat any animal products, wear leather, etc., but the restaurant where he works serves many animal products–meat, cheese, milk, butter, etc.

Does he threaten not to serve animal products to people who order them because it goes against him conscience. Of course not! Would he be able to sue the restaurant if it fired him over this? Ugh. That's ludicrous.

That would be ludicrous. He's not down with meat, but because he needs a job he keeps his mouth shut and his opinions to himself. He has a right to think whatever he wants, and to do his job as is required of him.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Edward

Edward — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:29:31 +0000

Said Adrian:"Freedom of religious belief is one thing – but that must be matched with the right to freedom from it."

Nicely put, Adrian.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Adrian-T

Adrian-T — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:28:47 +0000

We have this kind of nonsense in the Netherlands where "weigerambtenaren" have the right to opt out of performing civil marriages, and have the support of the Christian Democrats and fundamentalist Christian Union parties who are in the Dutch coalition.

Religious fanatics like this silly woman should understand we are governed by English law and not the laws of the bible or any other holy book. Civil marriages are not marriages in the eyes of 'God', or any other fictional celestial dictator. If you cannot do your job according to the law of the land, because of childish superstitions – find another job. You are not forced to be a regsitrar after all. For instance, I do not feel discriminated against because my anti-theism precludes me from a job as a cleric.

Stop all this self-pitying nonsense about being "discriminated against" because you cannot exercise your bigotry.

It would be more than a watershed if this woman won her case: why stop at allowing christians exemption from performing gay marriages? Why not extend this to, say, muslim supermarket personnel from refusing to sell alcohol at the check-out, or pharmacists refusing to sell the morning after pill, or condoms?

Freedom of religious belief is one thing – but that must be matched with the right to freedom from it. Keep your religion inside your church, and stop imposing your superstitions on others who want nothing to do with it. Zero tolerance for intolerance!

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Byron

Byron — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:13:55 +0000

She should not be forced. The only time she should be forced is if she is the only one able to perform the unions.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: J Mathews

J Mathews — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:49:02 +0000

This woman is NOT being FORCED to do anything. She is quite free to go work at something else. Performing civil partnership is part of the job of a registrar, if she doesn't like it, she can do something else. No coercion of any kind is involved.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: J Mathews

J Mathews — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:46:02 +0000

Please, religious types listen up. If I was a vegetarian, could I take a job in a slaughterhouse, and when asked to kill a few cows, say, "no, sorry, my personal beliefs do not allow me to kill animals, and I'll go to court if you try to make me".

If this lady was being forced to work as a registrar, and was not allowed to do any other line of work, then yes, of course she would have a point, and I'd agree. But she does not have to work as a registrar, as I am sure there are many other jobs she could do. Besides, if I recall correctly, another council employee tried the same thing, was sacked, and LOST an appeal for unfair dismissal. This lady is free to choose what job she does, just as I can choose not to work in a slaughterhouse.

Typical religious nonsense.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Edward

Edward — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:31:25 +0000

Re Bob's comment: "Putting it quite simply – this woman should not be forced to do something that goes against her religious beliefs."

Bob, if that woman who refuses to officiate over same-sex unions wants to hold to a 2000 year old book as her excuse – and she has every right to – then she should be in the home, not out in a man's world and a man's work force…as the good book says, "a woman's work, employment, or task is to be working in, and watching over the home". In my opinion, she can't cherry pick which dictums she wants to use from the bible and which she prefers to ignore. In other words, she can't have it both ways.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:24:17 +0000

If this woman has such strong Christian beliefs, the only thing she can do is gracefully resign her position. She clearly can no longer do her job.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Bill Perdue, RainbowRED

Bill Perdue, RainbowRED — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:28:53 +0000

I suppose this was inevitable given Boris's election. Now all the right wing nuts and haters will come climbing up from the sewers to demand their "right" to be bigots. They have no right of course, except in the minds of a few cretins like "Bob" who are consumed by self loathing and internalized homophobia. We can feel sorry for pathetic people like "Bob" but we should never give an inch to their delusional homophobia.

If "Bob" wants to find a real fascist he should book the next flight to the Vatican. Der Pope is an "ex" Nazi who joined the HitlerJugend and was rewarded with a plush assignment to a Luftwaffe flak unit, where he happily tried to shoot down allied aircraft. Or “Bob”: could look for fascism in the political descendents of the Tory Clivden Set. He wouldn’t have far to look.

Please, "Bob" explain to us why you conservative types think you can get away with slandering honest activists. You raise the most outrageous lies and slanders against us, saying we’re racists (me), fascists (Robert), child molesters (those who protest police homophobia) and what you conservatives said about Omar Kuddus when he was giving his all to save Mehdi Kazemi was vile and meant to interfere with his work. Except for the occasional imbecile, no one believes you. You fail to impress, twit.

The truth is that we’re queer (and militant) and we’re here and take my word for it, we’re not going away. Deal.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: elizabet veldon

elizabet veldon — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:23:48 +0000

just why do the Christians come on hear and spread their hatefilled messages? Anyway…

I see case after case being taken to court and, on the whole, won where Religious types (of any persuasion) seek to gain power and infulance over the Seculer State.

Welcome to the death of the seculer state.

We have to stand up against these people – even if the courts and laws of the land are being used to further their ends against us and other groups.

(Report comment to the moderator)