British Jewish body expresses concern about new gay laws
By David Byers
The Board of Deputies of British Jews says it hopes the Government Sexual Orientation Regulations, which are due to come into force in April, will respect community members’ right to freedom of conscience, as well as gay rights.
The rules, which are in line with European Union requirements, will punish businesses and organisations which discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation. Hotels which refuse to let double rooms to gay couples could, for example, be taken to court.
Religious groups - including the Board of Deputies as well as elements of the British Christian and Muslim communities - are concerned that the rules will force religious groups to promote homosexual rights and, if they refuse, could persecute them on moral grounds.
Diverse community
Britain’s Jewish community is made up of a diverse selection of denominations with a variety of views on gays, ranging from ultra-orthodox, orthodox, conservative, reform and liberal, and the Board of Deputies says that it is happy for gays - along with all of those denominations - to "live their lives the way they choose" as long as they do not impinge on each other. The implication was that these new rules could impose the morality of one grouping on another.
"It must be possible for people to live their lives in the manner in which they choose as long as it does not impinge upon the rights of others," a spokesman for the Board of Deputies said Thursday.
"We hope that to this effect the regulations will be framed in such a way that allows for both the effective combating of discrimination in the provision of goods and services whilst respecting freedom of conscience and conviction."
The Board of Deputies’ criticism of the rules was, however, far more mild than some groupings which expressed explicit condemnation of the law. Dr Majid Katme, of the Islamic Medical Association, yesterday urged Muslims to join protests against the "unjust" laws, including a torchlight parade in Westminster to coincide with a Lords debate next Tuesday.
Christian campaigners fear churches which refuse to let out parish halls or conference centres to gay groups would face legal action, as could schools which fail to teach that homosexuality is equal to marriage.
The Church of England has complained that vicars who refuse to bless civil partnerships may be also targeted. And the Roman Catholic Church has threatened to close its nine adoption and fostering agencies if they are forced to place children with homosexual couples.
Reluctant approval
The outcry has piled pressure on the UK’s Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly - a devout Roman Catholic who is thought to have approved the regulations reluctantly - to rethink the legislation, and amend it.
Miss Kelly has yet to publish final details of how the regulations will work. However, similar proposals for Northern Ireland say anyone found guilty of discrimination will faces fines of between £500 and £1,000 for a first offence and up to £25,000 for repeat "serious" offences.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship, which is organising the London demo, said: "The regulations not only force people to assist and promote activities contrary to the historic teachings of their faith, whether Christian, Jewish or Muslim, but also censor them from speaking freely about their beliefs."