UK Minister: We will stand firm against faith groups on equality legislation

Wednesday, 20th May 2009
By Judy West

The British Government Equalities Minister, Maria Eagle...pledged that she and other Ministers would stand firm against any attempts by faith groups to get out of the demands of LGBT legislation and the forthcoming Equality Bill.

Addressing a cutting-edge UK conference, Faith, Homophobia. Transphobia, & Human Rights - building positive alliances for equality and sexual diversity, Ms. Eagle pointed out: “Values of equality and social justice are held by many within as well as outside faith communities.

“The circumstances in which religious institutions can practice anything less than full equality are few and far between. While the state would not intervene in narrowly ritual or doctrinal matters within faith groups, these communities cannot claim that everything they run is outside the scope of anti-discrimination law. Members of faith groups have a role in making the argument in their own communities for greater LGBT acceptance, but in the meantime the state has a duty to protect people from unfair treatment.” the rest