This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21613433
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| High Court hears gay cure ad ban 'threatens democracy' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A ban on a bus advert claiming gay people can be "cured" was a "deep threat" to democratic freedoms, the High Court has heard. | |
| The advert was created by Christian group Core Issues Trust, which tries to help people overcome gay urges. | |
| But Transport for London (TfL) pulled the campaign, claiming it breached its advertising policy because it could have caused widespread offence. | But Transport for London (TfL) pulled the campaign, claiming it breached its advertising policy because it could have caused widespread offence. |
| The trust is applying for a judicial review of TfL's decision. | The trust is applying for a judicial review of TfL's decision. |
| 'Restrained advertisement' | 'Restrained advertisement' |
| The advert was due to appear on 24 London buses as a repost to one by gay rights organisation Stonewall, which ran last April reading: "Some people are gay. Get over it!" | The advert was due to appear on 24 London buses as a repost to one by gay rights organisation Stonewall, which ran last April reading: "Some people are gay. Get over it!" |
| The Core Issues Trust advert was due to read: "Not Gay. Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get over it!". | The Core Issues Trust advert was due to read: "Not Gay. Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get over it!". |
| Dr Mike Davidson, co-director of the Core Issues Trust, asked Mrs Justice Lang to rule the ban was unlawful and "a deep threat" to democratic freedoms. | Dr Mike Davidson, co-director of the Core Issues Trust, asked Mrs Justice Lang to rule the ban was unlawful and "a deep threat" to democratic freedoms. |
| Paul Diamond, appearing for the trust, told the court: "We believe this is a very important free speech case on whether a totally temperate, restrained advertisement can be put on the sides of London buses." | Paul Diamond, appearing for the trust, told the court: "We believe this is a very important free speech case on whether a totally temperate, restrained advertisement can be put on the sides of London buses." |
| A TfL spokesman said: "The advertisement breached TfL's advertising policy as, in our view, it contained a publicly controversial message and was likely to cause widespread offence to members of the public. | A TfL spokesman said: "The advertisement breached TfL's advertising policy as, in our view, it contained a publicly controversial message and was likely to cause widespread offence to members of the public. |
| "This view was borne out by the high number of complaints we received about the ad and the large number of negative comments on social media and newspaper websites." | "This view was borne out by the high number of complaints we received about the ad and the large number of negative comments on social media and newspaper websites." |
| Before the hearing, Matthew Ryder QC, who specialises in human rights, said it was a classic example of someone's freedom of expression being pitted against someone's right not to be offended. | Before the hearing, Matthew Ryder QC, who specialises in human rights, said it was a classic example of someone's freedom of expression being pitted against someone's right not to be offended. |
| "Freedom of expression includes speaking in a way which offends people," he said. | "Freedom of expression includes speaking in a way which offends people," he said. |