Gay couple to sue over being barred from bed and breakfast
A British gay couple are to sue the owners of guest house who turned them away because of their sexuality.
Michael Black and John Morgan, from Cambridgeshire, England, had booked a double room at the Swiss B&B in March, but the owners of guest house turned them away. The owner of the guest house, Mrs Wilkinson, told the couple it was “against her convictions” to let them share a bed.
Michael Black and John Morgan have brought in human rights organization Liberty to help take legal action against Susanne Wilkinson.
Legal director James Welch said the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 made it against the law for public authorities and other service providers to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.
He said: “This isn’t about money for them. Their only motive is in order to prove the point that it is unlawful and should not have happened.
“If they win, they have said they will give any money away to charity.”
The start of legal proceedings comes two months after Mr Black, 62, and Mr Morgan, 56, reported Mrs Wilkinson to police for refusing them a room.
Posted by Rob Coe on May 17th, 2010 at 12:44pm
