Tag Archives: through-the-week

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. The couple had been in the village, near Maidenhead, to meet some friends for dinner and to see a local play. Black, a 62-year-old self-employed exams consultant, said: “We're two respectable middle-aged men. John is leader of the Lib Dem group on Huntingdon town council. “This was the first time either of us had experienced homophobia at first hand, despite being aged 56 and 62. We were shocked and embarrassed. “Mrs Wilkinson saw us both before we got out of the car and immediately acted in an unwelcoming, cold way, but my boyfriend and I were polite and friendly. “She said if we'd told her in advance she would have told us not to come.” She apologised for turning them away and she returned their deposit and was in no way abusive, the couple said. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/21/gay-couple-refused-hotel-room added by: TravG73