Battle For Sexual Orientation Regulations Is Far From Over

KENILWORTH, 10 JANUARY 2007 — The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has welcomed the House of Lords decision to approve the Northern Ireland sexual orientation regulations, but warns that the battle is far from over.

GALHA’s secretary, George Broadhead, said: “While we are very pleased that the Lords sent the Christian agitators packing on this occasion, they haven’t gone away. The regulations are still subject to a judicial review, which will take place in March, and the judge might decide that the regulations are incompatible with the Human Rights Act. And we are still awaiting the regulations that will apply to Great Britain, which have been delayed until April.

“The religious pressure on the Communities Secretary, Ruth Kelly, will be relentless to provide more and more opt-outs for religion. We certainly hope that this result in the House of Lords will stiffen the Government’s resolve not to weaken the regulations even further with concessions to religion that will render them meaningless.”

Mr Broadhead said that although the extremists on the religious right had shot themselves in the foot with their campaign of distortion and exaggeration, the mainstream churches were much more powerful and influential with the Government behind the scenes.

“We should not forget that the Church of England and the Catholics have both opposed these regulations and continue to do so. The Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols, has even tried to blackmail the Government into dropping the regulations by threatening to withdraw welfare services operated by the Church. The Church of England has made similar threats. It is these powerful institutions that will be exerting pressure on Ruth Kelly – but in the light of the big majority in the Lords, we hope that she will resist any further exemptions.”