British Guest House Owners Get Around Decision Barring Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples

Last year, England's Court of Appeal upheld upheld a damage award under Britain's Equality Act against a Christian couple who operated a hotel for refusing, on religious grounds, to rent a double-bedded room to a same-sex couple that had reserved it. (See prior posting.) According to today's London Telegraph, the couple say they have now found a way to continue to refuse to rent rooms to same-sex couples. Peter and Hazelmary Bull have turned their guest house into a not-for-profit organization that offers respite care for Christians.  Guests are limited to those who are in agreement with the Bulls' Christian values. Presumably this move allows the Bulls to rely on the exemption in Schedule 23 of the Equality Act which, among other things, permits non-profit organizations formed "to enable persons of a religion or belief to receive any benefit, or to engage in any activity, within the framework of that religion or belief" to discriminate on the basis of religion or sexual orientation in providing facilities or services. Meanwhile the Bulls are also pursuing an appeal of the original decision to the Supreme Court.