• Lords defeat attempt to overturn gay rights law
• Gay Christians hurt by 'wicked campaign'
• Gay rights law protesters branded 'hypocrites'
• See also

Peers voted down attempts to quash groundbreaking new rules giving homosexual people rights against discrimination.

They backed the Northern Ireland Sexual Orientation Regulation by 199 votes to 68 last night, a majority of 131, despite vocal opposition from religious organisations.

But Christian groups declared that legal action against new laws extending gay rights would go ahead, regardless of the vote.

The Christian Institute and a group of Christian denominations in Northern Ireland are challenging the sexual orientation regulations which outlaw discrimination against same-sex couples.

The vote came after an impassioned debate lasting more than two hours. Critics said the regulations would undermine religious freedoms, and leave the faithful at risk of legal action if they quoted biblical teaching on homosexuality or if Christian guesthouse owners refused to allow same-sex couples to share a bedroom.

Hundreds of people staged a torchlit protest outside Parliament against the rules last night as peers debated an attempt to quash the rules, which came into force in Northern Ireland at the start of the year. Regulations covering the rest of the UK are expected to come into force in April.

The regulations have been delayed in the rest of the UK amid claims by religious groups that they will promote gay rights contrary to their beliefs and penalise those who have moral objections to homosexuality. But gay rights activists insist the campaign against the regulations is being orchestrated by "fringe groups", and have warned against any attempt to water down the rules when they are introduced across Britain.

Opening last night's debate, Lord Morrow, the Democratic Unionist peer, said: "Regulations are supposed to be non controversial. These regulations could not be more controversial.

"It cannot be often that a set of regulations can be accused of attacking fundamental religious freedoms, yet that is just what has happened. They require religious organisations to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state."

Lord Tebbit said: "These regulations would leave perfectly innocent people in fear of legal action from the fanatical wings of the lesbian, homosexual, gay pressure groups. Whatever the intention of those who drafted the regulations, they are bound to create not only a shadow, or umbra of prohibition, but a vastly-wider penumbra of the fear of prosecution."

Lord Eames, the former Archbishop of Armagh, attacked the Government for failing to consult the people of Northern Ireland about the rules.

Lord Mackay of Clashfern said the rules would leave bed and breakfast owners open to legal action if they do not allow same-sex couples to share a room.

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, warned: "They run the risk of facing a significant number of people with a choice between complying with the law and their religious convictions."

But Lord Smith, the former Labour culture secretary, launched an impassioned defence of the protections offered by the rules. He attacked critics of the regulations, telling peers: "What they are arguing for is quite simply the right to discriminate and the right to harass. These arguments are being made in the name of Christianity. I find that very difficult to understand.

"People have the right to believe that homosexuality is somehow wrong. I believe very strongly that people have a right to hold views that may be bigoted or discriminatory, but I do not believe they have the right to put their beliefs into action."


All eyes will be on Westminster tonight as peers debate a motion to annul the new sexual discrimination laws. A scary mob of religious fundamentalists are calling on ministers to scrap new legislation that would stop people refusing to provide their goods or services to gay or lesbian people.

The torch-bearers will present a 10,000-signature petition to the House of Commons later today.

The Northern Ireland Sexual Orientation Regulations came into effect on January 1st, and similar laws are expected to be introduced across the UK by April. However, the House of Lords will tonight debate a motion to annul the existing law before that happens.

In many ways, this unfolding drama will distill the elements of struggle between the UK’s secular sensibilities and those of increasingly vocal religious groups.

Both sides are accusing the other of being ‘disturbing’ when the most disturbing aspect of this debate is that it’s occurring at all.

Unless society regresses, in years to come, future generations will be appalled that lesbians and gay men were the last group required to fight for their right not to be refused business on grounds of sexuality- equally abhorrent will be the historical fact that religious groups opposed these regulations so vociferously.

In today’s Guardian, Polly Toynbee proves a refreshing voice of reason: “These faith groups are now showing exactly why they should not be running an ever growing number of schools and academies. Homophobic bullying is rife in schools: 15-25 children a year kill themselves due to bullying, many, if not most, tormented because they are perceived to be gay. So why are we putting state schools into the hands of organisations that openly preach homophobia as a creed so holy it trumps all their other good works?”

Writing in the Telegraph, former lord chancellor Lord Mackay of Clashfern represents the old school: "If, as I believe, the regulations are intended to make it unlawful to refuse to facilitate homosexual acts, then it is obvious that those who practice a faith that considers homosexual activity to be sinful are being subjected to a law that seeks to over-ride their consciences."

The Christians seem especially obsessed with the idea of a gay couple turning up to a Jesus-themed B&B. Their greatest fear seems to stem from the fact that they won’t be able to reject them at the door (like Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem) in case they’re sued for discrimination.

Aside from the fact that queens are highly unlikely to set foot in a Christian B&B, especially if there’s a Conran hotel within a 50m radius, nobody is asking the hosts to watch their gay guests having sex. Christians are always keen to point out that they love the sinner, but not the sin- well, what is the problem then?

If the bedroom door’s shut, what the eye can’t see, the heart cannot grieve.

Equality Act campaigner Angela Eagle MP ran with the B&B theme on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning: "We're not curtailing religious freedom, people can argue against the practice of homosexuality if they must.

"What this law does is say it's wrong to put a sign outside a pub or a hotel saying 'no gays'. Actually it's also wrong and it's been illegal since the 1970s to put a sign outside a pub or a hotel saying 'no blacks', or in fact 'no Catholics' or 'no Protestants. That is right, proper and moderate."

Reverend Richard Kirker, Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement [LGCM] is ashamed of his fellow Christians: "Pleas that 'religious' individuals and bodies should be able to violate the rules being applied to and by the rest of society, by continuing to treat lesbian and gay people (including Christian people) with hostility and contempt, are both extremely hurtful in themselves, and a shameful witness to the rest of society."

“A small group of fundamentalist Christians have led a wicked campaign of disinformation about these Regulations, making claims that anyone who bothered to read them could see were false.”

“They make spurious claims about the infringement of their religious liberties, when the regulations give them alone the right to continue to discriminate against lesbian and gay people. It is like having won the right to “hunt us with dogs” on their own property they now want to hunt us down wherever they choose.”

“The government has a clear task not to enlarge the ability for anyone to discriminate against homosexuals – the law could easily be made unenforceable if they do – but we are sure that is the intent of these misguided fanatical homophobes.”
 

• Religions united in opposition to gay rights law
• Anglican churches 'can reject women priests'

Religious groups have been accused of homophobia and double standards over a demonstration outside Parliament against new gay rights laws.

Christians, Muslims and Jews are staging a protest today over laws they claim will force them to "actively condone and promote" homosexual sex.

The protest has angered gay rights campaigners. Peter Tatchell of the group OutRage! said the demonstration, against the Sexual Orientation Regulations, was the result of "scaremongering, lies and hypocrisy".

And the Rev Martin Reynolds, communications director for the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, accused the demonstrators of pursuing a "deeply disturbing" agenda.

The protests coincide with a House of Lords debate this evening on the Northern Ireland Sexual Orientation Regulations, which are designed to prevent businesses discriminating against gay people in the provision of goods and services.

Mr Tatchell said of the protesters: "They have a highly selective and overtly homophobic interpretation of biblical morality.

"If there are going to be laws against discrimination, they should apply equally to everyone. It is wrong to give legal protection against some forms of discrimination but not against others.

"Last year's Equality Act gave full legal protection against discrimination to people of faith. Some religious leaders are now demanding that the protection they have secured for themselves should be denied to lesbians and gays.

"It is hypocrisy and double standards."

The regulations would mean that hotels could be prosecuted for refusing to provide rooms for gay couples and parishes obliged to rent out halls for gay "wedding" receptions. Equally, gay bars would not be able to ban straight couples.

Catholic adoption agencies have said they fear they may be forced to allow gay couples to adopt.

A petition signed by 10,000 Christians will be handed to the Queen asking her to use her "position and power" to stop the Government introducing the laws.
 
See also
Religion bows to gay rights
Gay rights and the Queen
Losing control of the church