Gay rugby player facing deportation to Kenya gets reprieve from Home Office – The Independent

‘A gay rugby player has been given a reprieve from deportation to Kenya after losing his legal battle and being ordered to leave the UK.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

LGBT relationships and the school curriculum: a human rights analysis – UK Human Rights Blog

‘What is the scope of a school’s duty to accommodate the religion of a parent whose children attend its schools? From September 2020, it will become mandatory for “relationship education” which includes lessons about LGBT relationships to be taught in English primary schools under the Children and Social Work Act 2017. According to a petition by Muslim parents in Birmingham, however, such teaching contradicts the Islamic faith, thereby violating their freedom of religion.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th June 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Officials altered records in bisexual prison officer case, judge says – The Guardian

‘An investigation is under way after government officials altered and redacted documents in an employment tribunal case involving a bisexual prison officer, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 28th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employment Appeal Tribunal hears appeal from Christian ex-magistrate dismissed over adoption comments – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal is this week hearing an appeal from a former magistrate who was removed from the judiciary after he expressed the view that it was in a child’s best interests to be raised by a mother and a father.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Falklands veteran ‘forced out over sexuality’ plans to sue MoD – BBC News

‘A Falklands veteran forced out of the Royal Navy over his sexuality plans to sue for the return of military honours.’

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BBC News, 8th May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mediator brought in to resolve Birmingham LGBT teaching dispute – The Guardian

‘A former leading prosecutor has been drafted in to mediate in a controversial dispute over the teaching of LGBT education in Birmingham schools. Nazir Afzal, the Crown Prosecution Service’s former lead on child sexual abuse, confirmed he had been asked by parents and Birmingham city council to help reach a resolution in the longstanding dispute.’

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The Guardian, 6th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

15 LGBT refugees say UK Home Office has ‘abandoned’ them to danger in Turkey – The Guardian

Posted April 15th, 2019 in homosexuality, news, refugees by michael

‘Fifteen LGBT Syrian refugees are launching a legal challenge on Monday against the Home Office claiming they have been abandoned to a life of danger in Turkey, despite promises to bring them speedily to safety in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equal marriage in the Church of England – Law & Religion UK

Posted April 12th, 2019 in Church of England, equality, gender, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

‘On Friday 12 April, a new campaign was launched with aim of changing the teaching and practice of the Church of England to allow all couples to marry in church, regardless of their gender, sex or sexuality.’

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Law & Religion UK, 12th April 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Birmingham primary school in LGBT row cleared by watchdog – The Guardian

‘A Birmingham primary school at the centre of a dispute with parents over lessons about LGBT rights has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Ofsted.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gay rugby player facing deportation allowed to leave holding centre – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bail, deportation, homosexuality, immigration, news, tribunals by tracey

‘A gay rugby player who is facing deportation to Kenya, where he says he will be persecuted because of his sexuality, has been granted bail allowing him to leave the immigration centre where he was being held.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Proposed legislation to create heterosexual civil partnerships will still not create a “common law” marriage – Family Law

‘In June 2018 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of a heterosexual couple who had argued that their inability to formalise their relationship through a civil partnership was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Prime Minister indicated in October that she would legislate to give all couples the same choices as to how to achieve legal recognition of their relationship for the first time, writes Ashford’s family solicitor Emma Mackay.’

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Family Law, 22nd November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Case Comment: Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd & Ors [2018] UKSC 49 – UKSC Blog

‘It must be a rare moment in legal history, when cakes are at the centre of Supreme Court Knights_S_146668decisions in the same year on both sides of the pond.’

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UKSC Blog, 12th November 2018

Source: ukscblog.com

Relationships as seen in the eyes of the law – Family Law

‘Relationships have been in the news in 2018. Not only did we see two Royal weddings, but at the opposite end of the romance spectrum, in June the UK Supreme Court ruled that it was discriminatory not to allow opposite-sex couples to form civil partnerships. Dianne Millen, an associate at Morton Fraser in Edinburgh, looks at relationships as seen in the eyes of the law.’

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Family Law, 13th November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd and others – Blackstone Chambers

‘The Supreme Court unanimously and comprehensively reversed the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s decision in the “gay cake” case. The Supreme Court, in a decision of considerable significance for the United Kingdom as a whole, and beyond, held that the bakery would have refused to supply this particular cake to anyone, whatever their personal characteristics. So there was no discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. If and to the extent that there was an arguable case of discrimination on grounds of political opinion, no justification has been shown for overriding the bakery’s ECHR protections against compelled speech.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 10th October 2018

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

The inheritance tax burden and civil partnerships for cohabiting siblings: right idea, wrong approach? – Family Law

‘Family Law in Partnership director David Allison and associate Carla Ditz re-examine how and why civil partnerships came into being, the successful campaign to allow heterosexual couples to enter into a civil partnership and the proposals for 2committed siblings” to be able to form civil partnerships.’

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Family Law, 24th October 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Jacob Rowbottom: Cakes, Gay Marriage and the Right against Compelled Speech – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In the high-profile decision in Lee v Ashers, the Supreme Court had to consider a customer’s rights against discrimination along with the baker’s right to freedom of expression. In its finding for the baker, the Supreme Court took an important step in developing a domestic doctrine against ‘compelled speech’. While the outcome of the case divides opinion, the reasoning of the Court requires further consideration of when a person has a right not express a particular view.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th October 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Conscience and cake: the final chapter – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Lee v. Ashers Baking Company Ltd. On Wednesday the Supreme Court handed down its much-anticipated judgment in the ‘gay cake’ case. The Court unanimously held that it was not direct discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or political opinion for the owners of a Northern Irish bakery to refuse to bake a cake with the message ‘Support Gay Marriage’ on it, when to do so would have been contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th October 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Baker’s refusal to bake gay marriage cake not direct discrimination – OUT-LAW.com

‘A Christian bakery’s refusal to bake a cake iced with a message supportive of same sex marriage was not direct discrimination, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Gay cake’ row: Supreme Court rules in favour of Ashers – BBC News

‘The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have won their appeal in the so-called “gay cake” discrimination case.’

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BBC News, 10th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speech by Dr Victoria McCloud, Master of the Senior Courts: Rainbow Lives, Monochrome Laws – Reflections on law and identity – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Dr Victoria McCloud, Master of the Senior Courts: Rainbow Lives, Monochrome Laws – Reflections on law and identity.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st August 2018