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Gay rights laws facing challenge Gay rights laws facing challenge
(about 3 hours later)
New laws banning discrimination against gay people in the provision of goods and services face a Lords challenge. New laws banning discrimination against gay people in the provision of goods and services are facing a challenge in the House of Lords.
The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith.The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith.
Protesters have gathered outside Parliament as a peer makes an attempt in the Lords to scrap the regulations.Protesters have gathered outside Parliament as a peer makes an attempt in the Lords to scrap the regulations.
But gay rights group Outrage's Peter Tatchell said no mainstream religious groups were supporting the protest. But gay rights groups say no mainstream religious groups support the protest.
The regulations came into force in Northern Ireland on 1 January and the government is planning to introduce them in England, Wales and Scotland, by April.The regulations came into force in Northern Ireland on 1 January and the government is planning to introduce them in England, Wales and Scotland, by April.
Homophobia deniedHomophobia denied
Critics say the regulations would mean hotels could not refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for gay wedding receptions. Critics say they would mean hotels could not refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for "gay wedding" receptions.
Some also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be legally forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership. They also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership.
Christians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas CordreyLawyer's Christian Fellowship Head-to-head: gay rights Have your sayChristians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas CordreyLawyer's Christian Fellowship Head-to-head: gay rights Have your say
Democratic Unionist peer Lord Morrow has put forward a motion calling for the Northern Ireland regulations to be annulled and amended - to be discussed in an hour-long "dinner debate" in the House of Lords on Tuesday evening. Democratic Unionist peer Lord Morrow has put forward a motion calling for the Northern Ireland regulations to be annulled and amended - to be discussed in an hour-long "dinner debate" in the House of Lords on Tuesday.
Barrister Thomas Cordrey, from the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, which has organised the rally, denied the group was homophobic, saying the regulations did not "strike the correct balance". Several hundred people gathered outside Parliament for the rally, chanting slogans, singing and holding placards.
He said: "Christians have no desire to discriminate unjustly on the grounds of sexual orientation, but they cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong." Ralph Brockman, a Baptist from London, told the BBC: "I'm concerned that the Biblical laws should be upheld.
He is backed by Bishop Michael Reid, founder of the Christian Congress for Traditional Values, who said discrimination was wrong, but so was discrimination against Christian values. "People may have different orientations but we need to have laws that will fence in our behaviour, as it were."
Religious freedom John Studley, a Christian from London, said: "This government is placing sexual rights over religious rights."
But supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998. But Neil Partridge, a gay Christian man, said: "Everyone has a right to their faith but is it fair to say to someone 'you can't share a bed in our hotel because you are gay'.
Labour MP and Equality Act campaigner Angela Eagle told the BBC's Today programme: "We're not curtailing religious freedom, people can argue against the practice of homosexuality if they must. "A hotel is a business, surely. I just think some of the people at this demonstration need to listen to the other side of the argument."
"What this law does is say it's wrong to put a sign outside a pub or a hotel saying 'no gays'...That is right, proper and moderate." He added: "Recently British Airways was criticised for not allowing staff to wear crucifixes and now some Christians are advocating this policy. I think the recent law is a good thing."
Supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998.
Some of the things that we've come across are where schools aren't tackling homophobic bullying properly, where people have been struck off by GPs because they were gay. Alan WardleStonewall Controversy over the law Some of the things that we've come across are where schools aren't tackling homophobic bullying properly, where people have been struck off by GPs because they were gay. Alan WardleStonewall Controversy over the law
The National Secular Society accused religious groups of "gross exaggeration" to get the law annulled. President Terry Sanderson said: "Parliament must not pander to their bigotry." The National Secular Society accused religious groups of "gross exaggeration" to get the law annulled, with president Terry Sanderson saying: "Parliament must not pander to their bigotry."
And Alan Wardle, spokesman for gay rights group Stonewall, told BBC News: "Some of the things that we've come across are where schools aren't tackling homophobic bullying properly, where people have been struck off by GPs because they were gay.
"These laws will prevent that kind of discrimination - not some of the lurid things that have been said about forcing people to promote a gay lifestyle."
In a statement on Tuesday, the Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the protest, saying the regulations would "provide a further platform to combat discrimination in this country".In a statement on Tuesday, the Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the protest, saying the regulations would "provide a further platform to combat discrimination in this country".
But it said it hoped the regulations would be "framed in such a way that allows for both the effective combating of discrimination in the provision of goods and services whilst respecting freedom of conscience and conviction".But it said it hoped the regulations would be "framed in such a way that allows for both the effective combating of discrimination in the provision of goods and services whilst respecting freedom of conscience and conviction".
A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March.A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March.