Two UK Christians, a marriage registrar and a sex counsellor, fired because they refused to work with gay couples, have lost their anti-discrimination case at the European Court of Human Rights. Lillian Ladele, a marriage registrar for London’s Islington Borough Council, refused to conduct Civil Union partnerships. Gary McFarlane, a Bristol relationship counsellor, was sacked after refusing to give sex therapy to gay couples. Gay rights advocacy organisation Stonewall has welcomed the court's decision. ‘Today’s judgement rightly confirms that it’s completely unacceptable in 2013 for public servants to pick and choose who they want to serve on the basis of sexual orientation," says a spokesperson. McFarlane says he will appeal the court's decision.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 16th January 2013 - 11:14am