Christian guesthouse owners lose appeal over ban on gay guests

Two Christian guesthouse owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who were ordered to pay damages after refusing to allow a gay couple to stay in a double room lost their appeal today.
10 Feb 2012

The challenge by the Bulls, who run Chymorvah House in Marazion, Cornwall, was rejected by three judges in the Court of Appeal in London.

They had appealed against a conclusion by a judge at Bristol County Court that they acted unlawfully when they turned away Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy in September 2008.

Judge Andrew Rutherford ruled in January last year that the Bulls had breached equality legislation and ordered them to pay the couple a total of £3,600 damages.

The appeal judges heard that the Bulls thought any sex outside marriage was a ''sin'', but denied they had discriminated against Mr Hall and Mr Preddy, from Bristol. the rest