Landmark sexual orientation case goes to the Court of Appeal

8 November 2011

Christian hotel owners who were told that their policy of not allowing gay couples to occupy double bedded rooms was discriminatory are taking their case to the Court of Appeal today (8/11/2011).

Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy won a discrimination claim earlier this year against the Christian hotel owners who had banned them from  occupying a double room in the  hotel on grounds of the couple's homosexuality.

The Bristol County Court ruled in January 2011 that the couple had been subject to direct discrimination in relation to their sexual orientation. The court also said that had it been necessary it would have found indirect discrimination. It stated: "...the only conclusion which can be drawn is that the refusal to allow them to occupy the double room which they had booked was because of their sexual orientation and the prima facie they fall within the provision of regulation 3 (1) and that this is direct discrimination."

The hotel owners refused the room to the couple, who had entered a civil partnership, as their policy was that only mixed sex married couples could have double rooms on the grounds of their devout Christian views.

Cloisters' barristers Robin Allen QC and Catherine Casserley will represent the couple and are instructed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in this landmark sexual orientation discrimination case.

Cloisters' equality barrister, Jason Galbraith-Marten, commented: "This is a landmark case and looks at the conflict between the right to manifest religious beliefs and the rights of others to equal treatment. The Court of Appeal will be asked to decide whether religious rights outweigh the rights of others even in places serving the public such as a hotel. This case will be watched with great interest by discrimination lawyers,religious groups and other Protected groups."