Couple launch challenge to heterosexual ban on Civil Partnerships – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The future of civil partnerships is again in the news. In October, Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan tried to register a Civil Partnership at Chelsea Town Hall but were rebuffed on the grounds that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 reserves that status strictly for same sex couples. Their lawyer, Louise Whitfield of Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors has announced their intention to seek a judicial review and the couple have also started a petition.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 9th December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Couple launch legal challenge against ban on heterosexual civil partnerships – The Guardian

‘Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan launch judicial review after trying to hold ceremony at town hall and being turned away.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Church faces legal challenge after blocking job offer to married gay priest – The Guardian

‘The first priest to marry his same-sex partner is to issue a legal challenge to the Church of England after his offer of a job as an NHS chaplain was withdrawn when his bishop refused the necessary permission.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – WLR Daily

MB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2014] EWCA Civ 1112; [2014] WLR (D) 355

‘The effect of section 4 of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which required that a subsisting marriage be annulled prior to the issue of a full gender recognition certificate, and thus to being treated as a woman for pension purposes, did not contravene the principle of equal treatment and was accordingly not discriminatory.’

WLR Daily, 31st July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Transgender person’s claim for female state pension rejected by appeal court – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2014 in appeals, EC law, gender, news, pensions, sexual orientation discrimination by michael

‘A transgender person’s claim to be entitled to receive the female state pension at the age of 60 has been rejected by the appeal court.’

Full story

The Guardian, 31st July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cary v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Cary v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2014] EWCA Civ 987; [2014] WLR (D) 320

‘The Court of Appeal gave guidance as to the procedure for the appointment of assessors in discrimination cases under the Equality Act 2010.’

WLR Daily, 17th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Passport official suspended over ‘interrogation’ of gay applicant – The Guardian

‘The Home Office has suspended a passport official and ordered a disciplinary investigation after the employee subjected a gay father-of-two to a lengthy interrogation about his sexual history and the details of his adoptions in front of the man’s four-year-old son.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Religion, The Rule of Law and Discrimination – Speech by Sir Terence Etherton

‘Speech by Sir Terence Etherton: Religion, The Rule of Law and Discrimination – 2014 Gray’s Inn Reading at Barnard’s Inn.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England & Wales, 26th June 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Caterers who refuse to work on same-sex weddings face prosecution – Daily Telegraph

‘Chauffeurs, photographers and caterers could have to pay thousands of pounds in damages if they refuse to provide services to a same-sex wedding.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Christian guesthouse owners go to Strasbourg over ‘discrimination’ case – Daily Telegraph

‘A Christian couple who were told it was illegal to turn unmarried couples away from their guesthouse have launched a landmark legal case at the European Court of Human Rights.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judicial Review Concessions, Gay Olympic Controversy, and Defamation in Europe – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Last week, the Justice Secretary published the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill. The implications of his revised proposals for judicial review reform are considered in this week’s roundup, along with controversy over gay rights at the Winter Olympics and recent trends in defamation cases before the Court of Human Rights.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th February 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

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).’

Full story

Legal Week, 12th December 2013

Source: www.legalweek.com

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.’

Full story

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

Preddy v Bull and another; Hall v Same – WLR Daily

Preddy v Bull and another; Hall v Same: [2013] UKSC 73;   [2013] WLR (D)  454

‘The refusal of hoteliers, who believed that sex outside marriage was sinful, to provide a same sex couple who were in a civil partnership with a double-bedded room because they were not married constituted unlawful discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. The limitation on the hoteliers’ right to manifest their religion was justified as a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of protecting the rights and freedoms of others.’

WLR Daily, 27th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

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.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lesbian couple ‘refused IVF’ take legal action – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 14th, 2013 in assisted reproduction, hospitals, news, sexual orientation discrimination by tracey

“A lesbian couple who claim they were turned down for fertility treatment because of their sexuality are taking legal action against the NHS.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.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

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.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.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.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk