07/10/2008
UK Christian Registrar Wins Case Over Refusal of Same-Sex Ceremonies
A UK tribunal has ruled in favor of a registrar who argued that performing a same-sex civil partnership violated her rights as an orthodox Christian.
Islington Council had reportedly given Lillian Ladele an ultimatum — perform same-sex marriages or risk her £31,000-a-year job as a registrar: "When she said she could not reconcile her faith with the union of gay men and women, she was treated like a 'pariah' and the council showed no respect for her rights as a Christian, the tribunal found."
Said the panel: "Islington Council rightly considered the importance of the right of the gay community not to be discriminated against but did not consider the right of Miss Ladele as a member of a religious group. It decided that the service it provided was secular and that the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community must be protected. In so acting, Islington Council took no notice of the rights of Miss Ladele by virtue of her orthodox Christian beliefs."
Islington is Britain's third most popular borough for same-sex civil partnerships. There were no details on the payout Ladele will receive in accordance with the decision.
Posted 10:34 AM EST by Andy Towle in Discrimination, Gay Marriage, Great Britain, Religion | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
After the last tizz over the lebian couple that sued based on state law being upheld (and rightfully so), this woman, just happens to BE ruled by the laws of England and is a state employee!
I agree with most here. If you won't perform your duties as the law sees fit, then you should be sent to HR for a "refitting" or accept your termination.
Otherwise, in my opinion, if you're still upholding some bassackward religious claptrap and refuse to be part of a current, modern society, then you should be sent someplace where you're more equipped to live out your life as others like you, like say, Namibia. There you can be as hateful, narrow-minded, and as much of a douchebag as you like, lady. GET OUT.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Jul 10, 2008 5:07:46 PM
Whoops! Please ignore that first fragment of a thought.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Jul 10, 2008 5:19:24 PM
This is ridiculous. Her church can discriminate against anyone it wants to, but she has a job accommodating the public, not her church members.
The implication is that, the next time she goes to vote (or marry, or even get a drivers` licence} a racist or sexist can turn her away because she is black or female, using EXACTLY the same reasoning she has used (and which was often used in our grandparents` days}. And will she agree to that bigot`s ``right`` to refuse service when SHE is the victim...
I believe in laws that ensure equal treatment and opportunities, but this bigot does not deserve to benefit from them and refuse the same to others.
Posted by: GregV | Jul 10, 2008 5:49:58 PM
This is ridiculous. Her church can discriminate against anyone it wants to, but she has a job accommodating the public, not her church members.
The implication is that, the next time she goes to vote (or marry, or even get a drivers` licence} a racist or sexist can turn her away because she is black or female, using EXACTLY the same reasoning she has used (and which was often used in our grandparents` days}. And will she agree to that bigot`s ``right`` to refuse service when SHE is the victim...
I believe in laws that ensure equal treatment and opportunities, but this bigot does not deserve to benefit from them and refuse the same to others.
Posted by: GregV | Jul 10, 2008 5:52:26 PM
The court, and really, the whole British system is painfully stupid on one of the simplest aspects of human rights: There is no such thing as a right to violate someone else's rights. This addled bint should NOT have the right to discriminate when performing a public service. And the system that coddles her should be mocked and disdained.
Posted by: Perception | Jul 10, 2008 11:50:12 PM
Start sending the letters!
registrars@islington.gov.uk
I hope this cunt gets fired one day!
Posted by: Marc | Jul 11, 2008 2:00:46 AM
I could say that my "religion" forbids me to look at black people, and that her picture in the media is an abomination. How would she like that?
Or how about is she went into a store and the clerk refused to serve her because she straightens her hair, she is female, she is black or whatever. How would she like that?
Too bad, bitch.
You have a job, follow the rules of it.
Posted by: disgusted | Jul 11, 2008 7:53:34 AM
If they did not want to fire her then they could have reassigned her to a different department, that way she could keep her religious beliefs (ugh!) in tact and not profit from her bigotry. But to PAY THE BITCH a settlement? AND let her keep her job? They have all gone soft in the head!
Posted by: CK | Jul 11, 2008 9:44:39 AM
This is bullshit and I hope the Council takes it to a higher court instance.
So... she should be allowed to discriminate against others because it's her religion? It's legal discrimination because disallowing it would be discriminatory?
What kind of BS is this? If you're in PUBLIC OFFICE, you have to follow the friggin' law. Heck, it's not even legal to discriminate if you're not in public office.
Some BS that is. I'll move there, form a cult where it's OK to discriminate against heterosexuals and start working for the same office as a registrar and refuse to help any heterosexuals wishing to marry. And I'll have precedence to point to when questioned.
She was hired to do a damn job. I don't like physical labour. Does that mean I can refuse it because I don't like it? It goes against my faith of lazyism.
Posted by: Philip Wester | Jul 11, 2008 1:08:57 PM
First off, none of the stories I've read about this have detailed what sort of harassment and/or retaliation she suffered after refusing to do what she was being paid to do, so I'm rather curious about that.
Second, it's rather alarming that this decision suggests a right not only to practice one's religion (go to church, cut off part of your dick, burn incense, whatevs) but also a right to believe any old thing, and to be protected from the consequences of those beliefs. Supposing I believe red means go and green means stop; are my rights violated by the cop who tickets me or the driver who hits me?
One can only hope that a proper legal decision from a real court, and not some rinky-dink employment tribunal, will set things aright.
Posted by: Christopher | Jul 12, 2008 2:35:46 AM
In plaats dat Freek of Jokko je om de vijf minuten aan je kop zeuren of je [u][b] Kaufen Sie Preisnachlass preiswerter VIAGRA LEVITRA CIALIS [/b][/u] [url=http://tolg.forum2x2.ru/]Bestel Generische Viagra bij Apotheek[/url] [url=http://dengy.forum2x2.ru/]Kopa Generische Viagra bij Internet Apotheek[/url] [url=http://mazes.forum2x2.ru/]Kopa Generische Viagra bij Internet Apotheek[/url] [url=http://vionol.11.forumer.com/]Bestel Generische Viagra b
Posted by: Escalelaf | Apr 4, 2009 6:34:21 AM