• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous grounds

Should B&B owners be allowed to refuse gay couples?

  • Yes, they should be allowed to refuse anyone for any reason

    Votes: 48 59.3%
  • The should be allowed to refuse if it violates their religious beliefs

    Votes: 2 2.5%
  • They should be fined for discriminating against gays

    Votes: 11 13.6%
  • They should lose their B&B license for discriminating against gays

    Votes: 14 17.3%
  • Other, please explain

    Votes: 6 7.4%

  • Total voters
    81

MyOwnDrum

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Messages
3,827
Reaction score
1,374
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Independent
This is in England where a Christian B&B owner refused a homosexual couple accommodation. Should this be allowed or not? For those of you who haven't visited the UK, B&Bs are much more common over there and American style motels are rare. Many, many homeowners supplement their incomes by operating B&Bs in their homes.

Should they be forced to take in gay couples if it is against their religious beliefs?

Gay couple turned away from B&B by Christian owners | World news | The Guardian

A gay couple were turned away from a bed and breakfast by its Christian owner who claimed it was against her convictions for two men to share a bed.

Michael Black and John Morgan from Brampton, Cambridgeshire, booked a double room at the B&B in Cookham, Berkshire, for Friday night.

When they arrived, Susanne Wilkinson and her husband Francis refused to allow them to stay. The owner said later that she had turned them away because it was against her policy to accommodate same sex couples. Black and Morgan claimed they were treated like lepers as a result of their sexuality. They reported the matter to Thames Valley police and have given a statement to police. Under the Equality Act 2006 it is illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of sexual orientation.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

What I find hypocritical on the part of the B&B owners is that, I seriously doubt they check the marriage certificates of straight couples. If they are so devoutly committed to traditional morality, they should be consistent.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Their business, their rules.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

I wonder if it would be possible for Britain to accomodate B&B owners who want to run family oriented, traditional value B&Bs for those who desire them?
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Depends on local laws.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Should they be forced to take in gay couples if it is against their religious beliefs?

Gay couple turned away from B&B by Christian owners | World news | The Guardian

Well, English law is different from U.S. law in this regard.

In general, I lean towards the rights of business owners to refuse service to anyone.

However, put it in a different context. Should a business be able to turn away blacks simply because they're black?
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Depends on local laws.

I was asking what the readership here thinks the law should be. Since a B&B is in a private home, it does make it different than a hotel and motel.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

As long as it is not a protected class in the 14th amendment.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Since a B&B is in a private home, it does make it different than a hotel and motel.

No, in that regard, a B&B is no different than a hotel.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Well, English law is different from U.S. law in this regard.

In general, I lean towards the rights of business owners to refuse service to anyone.

However, put it in a different context. Should a business be able to turn away blacks simply because they're black?

Exactly. What if this were a Black or interracial couple who were refused on those grounds?
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Exactly. What if this were a Black or interracial couple who were refused on those grounds?

That would be illegal in the U.S. and the business, if the case was proven that that was the basis on which the customers were refused service, would be liable for fines and/or penalties.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

No, in that regard, a B&B is no different than a hotel.

I disagree. In a B&B you interact with the proprietor's family, it is quite different than a more impersonal Hotel.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Exactly. What if this were a Black or interracial couple who were refused on those grounds?

I still wouldn't have a problem with it. Well, I would say that it's within their rights as owner of the private business to do so. It's not to say I would agree with the discrimination.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

I disagree. In a B&B you interact with the proprietor's family, it is quite different than a more impersonal Hotel.

It's a business. If you don't want strangers in your home, don't open a B&B.

For the record, I've stayed in a lot of B&B's and never interacted with anyone but the proprietor/spouse.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Well, I would say that it's within their rights as owner of the private business to do so. It's not to say I would agree with the discrimination.

Legally, it is not within their rights as a business owner to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or gender.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Legally, it is not within their rights as a business owner to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or gender.

That may be the context of the law, but I don't agree with it. Private property is private property and thus the property owners can decide. If they don't want to serve certain folk, I believe it is well within their rights as owner of the property to set that rule.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Their house, their rules. Retarded as they may be.

I don't really see the point of legally forcing private business owners to do business with people they find distasteful anyway. I see it as a lose-lose situation for ALL parties.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

I don't really see the point of legally forcing private business owners to do business with people they find distasteful anyway. I see it as a lose-lose situation for ALL parties.

In the U.S., these laws came about as a result of businesses refusing to serve black people prior to and during the civil rights movement. They aren't ideal, but they serve a purpose.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

In the U.S., these laws came about as a result of businesses refusing to serve black people prior to and during the civil rights movement. They aren't ideal, but they serve a purpose.

Those places are easy to deal with. Don't go there. Lack of business will shut them down.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Those places are easy to deal with. Don't go there. Lack of business will shut them down.

We already deal with them legally. Remember the Denny's lawsuits?

In general, I agree with you. Having said that, though, there are locations near where I live where you'd have entire towns that would essentially refuse to deal with people of color.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

In short, yes they should. Anyone for any reason.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

It's a business. If you don't want strangers in your home, don't open a B&B.

For the record, I've stayed in a lot of B&B's and never interacted with anyone but the proprietor/spouse.

Basically, you are correct. You may have breakfast with people, that's it.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

I see I misspelled 'Religious' in the title, btw. Annoying...
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

This is in England where a Christian B&B owner refused a homosexual couple accommodation. Should this be allowed or not? For those of you who haven't visited the UK, B&Bs are much more common over there and American style motels are rare. Many, many homeowners supplement their incomes by operating B&Bs in their homes.

Should they be forced to take in gay couples if it is against their religious beliefs?

Gay couple turned away from B&B by Christian owners | World news | The Guardian

They should be allowed to refuse service to anyone they wish.It doesn't why.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

It is private property and it does not fall into the "need" category like a super market or gas station. So they can refuse service for any reason.

Even though I agree they should be able to. If they have a business license from the state to operate, they may not be able to according to the license.
 
Back
Top Bottom