Gay couple threaten to sue UK government over same-sex marriage – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2014 in civil partnerships, divorce, equality, homosexuality, human rights, marriage, news by sally

‘A gay couple from Barnsley are threatening legal action against the government after discovering they will not be able to marry on 29 March, when the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act comes into force, because they are already in a civil partnership.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge Sir Paul Coleridge disciplined for stating views on traditional marriage – Daily Telegraph

‘A senior High Court judge has been disciplined for misconduct after speaking out over his support for traditional marriage.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court judge disciplined over marriage comments – BBC News

‘A High Court judge has been disciplined for voicing his views on marriage through national newspapers.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gay discrimination and Christian beliefs – Bull v Hall in the Supreme Court – Legal Week

‘The recent confirmation by the Supreme Court that it was unlawful discrimination for Christian hotel owners to refuse a double-bedded room to a same-sex couple was of considerable interest as the latest in a string of high-profile cases involving religious belief and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (and the first such judgment involving the highest court in the land).’

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Legal Week, 12th December 2013

Source: www.legalweek.com

Same-sex weddings to begin in March – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2013 in bills, Church of England, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

‘The first same-sex weddings in England and Wales will be able to take place from 29 March 2014, Equalities Minister Maria Miller says.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gay discrimination and Christian belief: Analysis of Bull v. Hall in the Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The recent confirmation by the Supreme Court that it was unlawful discrimination for Christian hotel owners to refuse a double-bedded room to a same-sex couple was of considerable interest as the latest in a string of high-profile cases involving religious belief and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (and the first such judgment involving the highest court in the land). We have already provided a summary of the facts and judgment here, and our post on the Court of Appeal ruling can be found here.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Bull and another (Appellants) v Hall and another (Respondents) On Appeal from the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) (England and Wales) – Supreme Court

Bull and another (Appellants) v Hall and another (Respondents) [2013] UKSC 73 | UKSC 2012/0065 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 27th November 2013

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Gay snub Cornish B&B owners lose Supreme Court appeal – BBC News

‘The owners of a Christian guesthouse who were ordered to pay damages for turning away a gay couple have lost their UK Supreme Court fight.”

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BBC News, 27th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gay rights group challenges Charity Commission refusal – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2013 in appeals, charities, homosexuality, human rights, news, public interest by sally

“A human rights organisation that supports gay and lesbian individuals in countries where homosexuality is outlawed has been denied charitable status on the grounds that it is not sufficiently of ‘public benefit’.”

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The Guardian, 17th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel v X, Y (Hoog Commissariaat van de Verenigde Naties voor de Vluchtelingen intervening); Z v Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel (Joined Cases C-199/12 to C-201/12) – WLR Daily

Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel v X, Y (Hoog Commissariaat van de Verenigde Naties voor de Vluchtelingen intervening); Z v Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel (Joined Cases C-199/12 to C-201/12);  [2013] WLR (D)  427

“The existence of criminal laws which specifically targeted homosexuals, supported the finding that those persons had to be regarded as forming a ‘particular social group’ within the meaning of Council Directive 2004/83/EC. A term of imprisonment which sanctioned homosexual acts and which was actually applied in the country of origin which adopted such legislation had to be regarded as being a punishment which was disproportionate or discriminatory and thus constituted an act of persecution. When assessing an application for refugee status, the competent authorities could not reasonably expect, in order to avoid the risk of persecution, the applicant for asylum to conceal his homosexuality in his country of origin or to exercise reserve in the expression of his sexual orientation.”

WLR Daily, 7th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Man wrongly charged in Crown Prosecution Service’s ‘homophobic witch-hunt’ – The Independent

“A man whose life was ruined when he was charged with child sex offences after looking at legal gay pornography in a hotel room has accused the police and Crown Prosecution Service of a ‘homophobic witch-hunt’ after his case was finally thrown out. The defendant endured a ‘two-year nightmare’ after being arrested in front of his family, charged with 10 offences almost a year later and repeatedly bailed, before every charge was dropped. If convicted he would have faced jail and been forced to sign the sex offenders’ register. His father died while he was awaiting trial.”

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The Independent, 1st November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New legal battle over gay adverts on London buses – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 17th, 2013 in advertising, homosexuality, news, transport by sally

“Transport chiefs in London have been accused of reopening a bitter row over homosexuality which saw Boris Johnson step in to ban advertisements on London buses promoting the idea that gay people could be ‘cured’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Most gay hate crimes go unreported, Stonewall survey finds – The Independent

“More than three-quarters of gay, bisexual and lesbian victims of hate crime did not report it to the police, a survey found.”

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The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Christian owners of Chymorvah Hotel who refused to allow gay couple to stay in double room take legal fight to Supreme Court – The Independent

“The Christian owners of a guesthouse who refused to allow a gay couple to stay in a double-bedded room have said they want to avoid a ‘collision’ between two different lifestyles as they prepare to take their case to the Supreme Court.”

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The Independent, 8th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 – Shared Buildings Regulations – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 4th, 2013 in homosexuality, marriage, news, regulations by sally

“The Consultation seeks views on draft Regulations which provide arrangements for the registration of shared religious buildings to solemnize marriages of same sex couples.”

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd October 2013

Source: www.consult.justice.gov.uk

Prisoners who have sex in jail face separation, commission finds – The Guardian

“Prisoners who have consensual sex while inside jail face being separated and possibly disciplined, prison governors have told the first review of sex behind bars in England and Wales.”

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The Guardian, 9th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Schools accused of reviving section 28 in sex education policies – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 20th, 2013 in Christianity, education, homosexuality, news by tracey

“Ministers have ordered an immediate investigation into evidence suggesting schools have been enforcing a bitterly controversial rule banning the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality, 10 years after it was abolished.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

WordPress pulls interview with anti-gay group Straight Pride UK – The Guardian

Posted August 14th, 2013 in copyright, freedom of expression, homosexuality, internet, news by sally

“Campaign group for ‘heterosexual equal rights’ uses US copyright law to issue a takedown notice.”

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The Guardian, 13th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 – Top Ten guide to the new act by Marisa Allman – Zenith Chambers

Posted July 31st, 2013 in civil partnerships, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

“This is an Act to make provision for same sex couples in England and Wales and about gender change for married persons and civil partners. It does not;

– Change the law relating to marriage for couples of the opposite sex
– Abolish civil partnership or repeal the Civil Partnership Act 2004
– Extend civil partnership to couples of the opposite sex”

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Zenith Chambers, 24th July 2013

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

Not equal everywhere: legal problems for gay couples who emigrate – Daily Telegraph

“Same-sex couples face continued uncertainty over their legal rights abroad that could leave them vulnerable. Family lawyer Fiona Wood explains more.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk