Anti-discrimination laws welcomed by Greens
12 January 2007
Brighton and Hove Greens condemn moves to delay goods and services discrimination protection for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
The party welcomes the House of Lords vote earlier this week which decisively rejected an attempt by hard line religious groups to suspend the regulations in Northern Ireland.
Should a lesbian pupil be expelled from a faith school because of her sexuality?
Is it right that a faith-run homeless hostel can stop housing someone because they’re gay?
The answer to both of these questions is ‘yes’ if the Government waters down new legislation.
The Government is putting regulations before Parliament which will make it illegal for the providers of goods and services to discriminate against lesbian and gay people. However there has been a huge campaign led by religious organizations to water down the regulations.
On Tuesday 9 January 2007 a protest outside Parliament was organised by religious organisations to coincide with a debate in the House of Lords on the regulations passed in Northern Ireland in December.
The debate was led by Lord Morrow who wants to eliminate the regulations, which will come into force throughout the rest of the UK later this year.
The planned legal protection offered by the new regulations is being vociferously challenged by Christian, Judaist and Muslim fundamentalists who want exemptions for religious organisations to continue to treat the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) communities like second-class citizens.
If these exceptions are enacted they could allow, for example, faith schools to expel LGB pupils or faith-based homeless charities to forbid access to LGB homeless people.
Phelim Mac Cafferty (pictured left) a gay Green Party activist and trade union adviser, commented: “Some of the protesters at the demonstration include ‘The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowhip’, which is against the outlawing of harassment against gay people.
Another is the ‘Christian Concern for our Nation’ which does not view homosexual relationships as equal to heterosexual ones.
“They want to hold onto the right to discriminate against LGB people and it’s simply unacceptable that these organisations could now hold the Government to ransom over the long-promised equality for the LGB communities.”
“This is not about forcing religious organisations to comply to any way of thinking, rather it establishes that the protections that those very organisations have in law are granted to the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities too.”
“The Green Party condemns any moves to water down the goods, facilities and services regulations. We call on the Government to now stand up to the bigots and make these regulations law.”
Notes to editors:
i. The regulations are due to be implemented for the rest of the UK in the coming months.ii. For further information, please contact Geoffrey Bowden Brighton and Hove Green Party Press Officer on 07958 682 683.
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