The trial of two Christian guesthouse owners being sued by a homosexual couple because of their policy of restricting double bed accommodation to married couples has begun.
Watch footage from this morning’s witness
This morning as Peter and Hazelmary Bull approached Bristol County Court for the first day of their trial they were greeted by dozens of concerned friends and supporters.
Around 30 people gathered in front of the court singing hymns and holding placards declaring ‘It’s their home’, a stark reminder that the guesthouse is also the Bulls’ home.
Marriage
Mr and Mrs Bull’s double room policy has been in place since they opened the Chymorvah guesthouse in 1986 and the policy is applied consistently to all unmarried couples.
But Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy brought a claim of sexual orientation discrimination against the Bulls after they were denied double bed accommodation in September 2008.
They are bringing a claim under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, seeking up to £5,000 for damaging their feelings. The litigation is being financed by the Government-funded Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Contesting
Mr and Mrs Bull are contesting the claim, saying that their double bed policy applies to all unmarried couples regardless of sexual orientation. They say it is based on their beliefs about marriage, not hostility to any sexual orientation.
Their legal defence is being financed by The Christian Institute, a charity that protects the religious liberty of Christians.
The Institute’s Mike Judge has said: “This Christian couple are being put on trial for their beliefs. Equality laws are being used as a sword rather than a shield.”
Lobby
Just days before Mr Preddy and Mr Hall arrived at the guesthouse, a letter had been sent to the establishment from homosexual lobby group, Stonewall.
The letter claimed that Mr and Mrs Bull’s double room policy was unlawful. Stonewall denies that the litigation is a ‘set up’.
On Saturday a letter written by two Church of England bishops appeared in The Daily Telegraph in which the bishops expressed “great concern” over the case.
Liberty
The letter was signed by the Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, and the former Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd Michael Nazir-Ali.
They wrote: “Mr and Mrs Bull’s understanding of marriage is the same as that of English law and the Christian Church. Their guesthouse is also their home. Their policy may seem traditional but, of itself, there is nothing wrong with that.”
They added: “Liberty of conscience must not be confined to the mind. It is meaningless unless it includes the freedom to stand by our principles publicly.”