Gay Humanists Welcome Government Promise But Warn Of Battles To Come

KENILWORTH, 25 JANUARY 2007 — The UK Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has welcomed the Government’s reported promise not to grant religious exemptions to the sexual orientation regulations, but warns that this is the first shot in a long battle.

GALHA’s secretary, George Broadhead, said: “The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will soon begin operating. It is an umbrella organisation trying to protect the rights of all minorities. It has religion and belief as well as sexual orientation within its remit, and this latest battle over adoption agencies shows just how difficult it is going to be to reconcile the two.”

Mr Broadhead said: “This problem of religious homophobia is not going to go away. As individual discrimination cases arise, Trevor Phillips, the head of the new commission, will have to try to decide whose rights are paramount. In the area of equality, there can be no compromise – gay people must be given complete protection from aggressive religious homophobia. There must be no conscience clauses, exemptions or special arrangements anywhere in law that allow religious groups to discriminate where no-one else can.”