Black and Morgan A British gay couple have won their discrimination case against Christian bed and breakfast owners who refused to give them a double room. Michael Black and John Morgan were refused a double room at Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Berkshire by its owner in 2010, after booking online. They have been awarded £1,800 (NZ$3,500) each at Reading County Court for injury to feelings. The ruling says that by refusing the couple access to a double room, they had been treated less favourably than an unmarried heterosexual couple in the same circumstances. Mr Black said the ruling felt "like a triumph". James Welch, from civil rights group Liberty which took up the men's case, said: "It is simply unacceptable for people running a business to refuse to provide a service because of someone's sexual orientation." It comes as a similar case in Cornwall awaits a Supreme Court hearing. Peter and Hazelmary Bull, the Christian owners of a guesthouse who also turned away a gay couple have won permission to appeal against their ruling.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 21st October 2012 - 12:46pm