The Pilgrim Planet Lodge The Human Rights Commission is looking into the case of a lesbian couple who were turned away from a Whangarei lodge by its owner, who told them a gay couple sharing a bed offended her religious beliefs. Jane Collison and Paula Knight had to travel another 50 kilometres to find somewhere else to stay, after the owner of the Pilgrim Planet Lodge advised "we cannot have two women, or men, sleeping in the same bed. This is my home and it is offensive to me." "Paula is Christian too, but we both found this lady's approach to us very unchristian, indeed," Collison has told GayNZ.com. While it doesn't comment on cases it's looking into, the Human Rights Commission says under the Human Rights Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against someone in the provision of goods and services because of their sexual orientation. There is an exception for 'shared residential accommodation' under the Human Rights Act, however this covers boarders in private homes, not people staying at lodges, motels or hotels. In the UK, the Christian owner of a bed and breakfast was last year ordered to pay damages after a court found her refusal to let a gay couple stay in one of her double rooms amounted to direct discrimination and a breach of equality law.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 10th May 2013 - 6:36pm