Football hooligans face ban from World Cup and Euros under CPS guidelines – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have today (23 August 2013) published a joint policy for dealing with violence, disorder, criminal damage and abuse in and around football matches this season.”

Full press release

Full guidelines

Crown Prosecution Service, 23rd August 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Second Christian B&B case headed for the Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

“Black and Morgan v. Wilkinson [2013] EWCA Civ 820. The Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal by a Christian bed and breakfast owner, upholding the decision that she unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple by refusing to provide them with a double bedroom. However, the Master of the Rolls (head of the civil justice system) Lord Dyson expressed doubt about whether the previous binding decision of the Court of Appeal in the very similar case of Hall and Preddy v. Bull and Bull [2012] EWCA Civ 83, was correct, and the Court granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd July 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Gay marriage: freedom of speech and conscience – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“At the beginning of 2013 11 countries allowed gay marriage to be performed. By the middle of the year that number had increased to 15 with more to come. Some states in the US and Mexico also allow gay marriages to take place and some jurisdictions recognise same-sex marriages conducted elsewhere but do not perform them. While civil partnerships were introduced throughout the UK in 2004, England and Wales and Scotland look likely to be the next jurisdictions to allow same-sex marriage. The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2012-13 to 2013-14 regarding England and Wales is already in the House of Lords and the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill has just been introduced. Northern Ireland, by contrast, looks set to stick solely with civil partnerships (and will recognise the other jurisdictions same-sex marriages as such).”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th July 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Lady Hale gives the Alison Weatherfield Memorial Lecture at the Employment Lawyers Association – Supreme Court

Lady Hale gives the Alison Weatherfield Memorial Lecture at the Employment Lawyers Association (PDF)

Supreme Court, 10th July 2013

Source: www.supremecourt.gov.uk

Black and another v Wilkinson – WLR Daily

Posted July 12th, 2013 in appeals, hotels, law reports, sexual orientation discrimination by tracey

Black and another v Wilkinson: [2013] EWCA Civ 820;   [2013] WLR (D)  270

“The defendant, who ran a bed and breakfast business from her home, unlawfully discriminated against the claimant homosexual partners by refusing, on the basis of her religious beliefs, to provide them with the double bedroom one of them had booked, contrary to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.”

WLR Daily, 9th July 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

B&B owner who turned away gay couple loses appeal – The Guardian

“The Christian owner of a bed and breakfast has lost her appeal against a ruling that she unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple when she refused to let them stay in a double room.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sacking GP from government drugs advisor post for ‘anti-gay’ views was lawful – UK Human Rights Blog

“Dr Hans-Christian Raabe lost his judicial review challenge to the revocation of his appointment as the GP member of the Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). His appointment was revoked less than a month after he had accepted an offer to join the ACMD, as a result of certain views about homosexuality expressed in a paper he had co-written in Canada some 6 years earlier.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 25th June 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The truth about gay marriage: legally there is nothing to be gained – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“The law pertaining to same-sex relationships has come a long way. Until the Sexual Offences Act 1967, homosexual relationships were illegal. Until the Civil Partnership Act 2004, there was no way of formalising a homosexual relationship. The debate has now moved to the more intricate matters surrounding the nature of that formalisation, with many people now campaigning for a law which would allow gay marriage.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th June 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Asociaţia ACCEPT v Consiliul Naţional pentru Combaterea Discriminǎrii – WLR Daily

Asociaţia ACCEPT v Consiliul Naţional pentru Combaterea Discriminǎrii (Case C-81/12); [2013] WLR (D) 153

“Homophobic statements made by a person perceived as playing a leading role in a football club but who did not have legal capacity to bind it in recruitment matters were capable of constituting ‘facts from which it may be presumed that there has been … discrimination’ pursuant to articles 2(2) and 10(1) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ 2000 L303, p16).”

WLR Daily, 25th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

‘Gay? Prove it then – have you read any Oscar Wilde?’: Judges accused of asking lesbian asylum seekers inappropriate questions – The Independent

“Have you ever read Oscar Wilde? Do you use sex toys? Why have you not attended a Pride march? These are just some of the questions that have been asked of lesbian asylum seekers in what one academic says shows shocking levels of ignorance and prejudice among tribunal judges.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Christian B&B owners sued over refusing gay guests can now turn away homosexual couples – The Independent

“A Christian couple who broke equality laws when they refused to let a gay couple stay in a double room in their bed and breakfast will now be able to legally turn away homosexual couples after becoming a not-for-profit organisation.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court challenge over banned ‘ex-gay’ bus advert – BBC News

“A ban on a bus advert claiming gay people can be “cured” is to be challenged in the High Court.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Heterosexual couples challenge ‘discriminatory’ civil partnerships bar – Daily Telegraph

“Laws restricting civil partnerships to gay couples discriminate against heterosexuals, four straight couples are to argue in a landmark challenge at the European Court of Human Rights.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bundesrepublik Deutschland v Dittrich – WLR Daily

Bundesrepublik Deutschland v Dittrich (Joined Cases C-124/11, C-125/11 and C-143/11); [2012] WLR (D) 370

“On the proper interpretation of article 3(1)(c) and 3(3) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation, assistance granted to public servants in the event of illness fell within the scope of the Directive if it was the responsibility of the state, as a public employer, to finance it, that being a matter for the national court to determine.”

WLR Daily, 6th December 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Upper Tribunal confirms illegality of Catholic Charity’s ban on same-sex couple adoption – UK Human Rights Blog

“A private adoption agency could not justify its exclusion of same-sex prospective parents by arguing that this policy would keep open a source of funding that would otherwise dry up and reduce the number of adoption placements.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The thorny issue of religious belief and discrimination law (again) – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 22nd, 2012 in Christianity, hotels, human rights, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“The Christian owner of a B&B in Berkshire was found to have discriminated against a gay couple by refusing to allow them stay in a double-bedded room because of her belief that all sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 20th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Gay couple win Berkshire B&B refusal case – BBC News

“A gay couple who were turned away from a bed and breakfast were discriminated against, it has been ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A legal right to gay marriage? – Family Law Week

“Andrew Commins, barrister, associate member of St John’s Chambers in Bristol analyses the legal issues relating to the question of gay marriage.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 24th September 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.com

Gay couple sue bed and breakfast owner – The Guardian

Posted September 18th, 2012 in damages, homosexuality, hotels, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“A gay couple have sued the owner of bed and breakfast accommodation after she refused to let them stay in a double room because of her religious views.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Religious freedom in UK to be considered by Strasbourg Court – UK Human Rights Blog

“Tomorrow (4 September) the Strasbourg Court will hear complaints in four applications that UK law has failed adequately to protect the applicants’ right to manifest their religion, contrary to Articles 9 (freedom of religion) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination).”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd September 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com