Should B&Bs be allowed to discriminate?

[dave87]

Apologies for the daily fail link, but this prompted vastly different responses between me and my dear Mum, so I thought I'd find what Hexites think... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-room-B-B.html

[Zak33]

Yes, I believe they should.

It's their homes, and their business.

If I didn't want you in my shop, I'd turf you out... same rules for B&B's.. the REASON is not material....

(I've deliberately NOT clicked the link, as I bet it's either anti gay or anti race rejection )

[Phage]

No - either you're open to the public or you're not. Do we really want to go back to No Irish, No blacks, No pets ?
<shudder>
Don't want certain people in your home ? Don't open it to the public. Simples.

[melon]

I am bit mixed on this , my thoughts are any one should be " considered " but not necessarily allowed if they dont feel comfortable ( for any reason ) .

My reason being quite simply it avoids potential problems without playing the race card or making someone feel discriminated against .

Although I do tend to lean more towards Phages dont start something you cant finish, there are also other factors too ( for example background checks bringing up history ) etc

m

[Phage]

Egads !
No, No, No.
It is never OK to discriminate on the basis of sex, race etc in a business sense. Moreover it's illegal.
You can refuse people on the basis of their dress, their behaviour or any reason other than the one's above.

[Agent]

If I didn't want you in my shop, I'd turf you out... same rules for B&B's.. the REASON is not material....

Oh but it so is.
If the REASON happens to be that you're black / white / Chinese / whatever presumably you'd have no problem with that either then?

[melon]

Egads !
No, No, No.
It is never OK to discriminate on the basis of sex, race etc in a business sense. Moreover it's illegal.
You can refuse people on the basis of their dress, their behaviour or any reason other than the one's above.

Well they wont know unless you tell them , and even if someone says they wont it doesnt mean they will , as they say old habbits die hard..

You cant change how people react to something they dislike even if their forced too - I know I've seen this many time in the past with my disability and other things.

If its just room where you dont interact much - no problem , but more awkward if their playing hosts when you obviously know they dont like you.

M

[Phage]

Well they wont know unless you tell them ,

Yes they will. As you have obviously done yourself.

and even if someone says they wont it doesnt mean they will , as they say old habbits die hard..

Sure. But this is why we have laws.

You cant change how people react to something they dislike even if their forced too - I know I've seen this many time in the past with my disability and other things.

If its just room where you dont interact much - no problem , but more awkward if their playing hosts when you obviously know they dont like you.

M

We can try. If they're in business, they have a duty to act fairly to all. Or suffer the consequences of the law.

[GeorgeStorm]

I don't know the laws surrounding B&Bs, but I am inclined to think it's their house, if they don't want them staying then fair enough.

I don't considering in the same way as I would a hotel etc.

Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, the reaction in terms of the death threats etc is just disgusting.

[melon]

Yes they will. As you have obviously done yourself.

Dont follow , if the law allowed for refusal under any conditions you just refuse them - you dont need to say why

Sure. But this is why we have laws.

Aye, but someone can obey the laws and still be awkward and nasty as they please about it, as many are i.e. disability hate being an example

We can try. If they're in business, they have a duty to act fairly to all. Or suffer the consequences of the law.

Tell that to numerous bus drivers I used to deal with- not all - but most

Generally speaking the more out of character / effort someone has to display, the more pizzed off they get ( esp if its in their own homes )

m

[Saracen]

Egads !
No, No, No.
It is never OK to discriminate on the basis of sex, race etc in a business sense. Moreover it's illegal.
You can refuse people on the basis of their dress, their behaviour or any reason other than the one's above.

But they weren't refused on the basis of either sex, race or even sexual preference. They were refused on the basis of behaviour, that being an unmarried couple sharing a bed.

So it's worth noting that they have said they have no problem with gay people staying, and would have offered separate rooms if they had them, but they didn't. And that they have refused rooms in the past to heterosexual couples that were clearly unmarried.

And their policy is determined by their religious beliefs, that being that sex between unmarried people is a sin in the eyes of God.

It's all about whether people should be allowed exceptions to the law on the basis if their religious beliefs, and whatever the rights or wrongs of this particular situation, the law is absolutely rife with exceptions on the basis of religious belief.

An example would be the exception allowing Sikhs to ride motorbikes with a crash helmet, or to carry a weapon, a kirpan, that would otherwise be considered an offensive weapon, and carry serious penalties.

.... Moreover it's illegal.
....

As per the above example, it's not necessarily illegal to discriminate, and I could give you quite a few more exceptions to various laws, including race discrimination laws, on that sort of basis.

As I said, they weren't refused because they were gay, but because they were unmarried and wanting to share a bed, in direct contravention of the owner's religious beliefs.

Now personally, I'd rather see absolutely no exceptions to laws that apply to most of us being given religious exemptions. But the law is what it is and it's rife with exeptions .... except, it seems, if you happen to be white, straight and Christian, in which case your religious beliefs appear to carry no merit in the eyes of the law.

Either we respect religious beliefs and permit exceptions, or we don't. Personally, I'd rather it was "don't", but that ain't where we are.

[Phage]

Interesting - I was under the impression that you were not to discriminate on the basis of marital status either ? Therefore discriminating on the basis of being unmarried and sharing a bed is also illegal ?

No problem with gay people staying so long as they don't share a room. Unbeliveably crass thing for them to say. Still clearly discrimination.

[TheAnimus]

This is just silly, it stops being someone's home as soon as someone pays money. Want to have complete control over your guests don't become a business, simple.

[kalniel]

Interesting - I was under the impression that you were not to discriminate on the basis of marital status either ? Therefore discriminating on the basis of being unmarried and sharing a bed is also illegal ?

AFAIK the law doesn't mind discrimination on a whole bunch of things, especially those you theoretically have some control over. But race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and now age in most circumstances are illegal to discriminate against.

[Phage]

A quick Google confirms that it is illegal to discrminate on the basis of marital status.

[kalniel]

A quick Google confirms that it is illegal to discrminate on the basis of marital status.

Looks like full list of protected characteristics is:

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and civil partnership
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation

Note that marriage/partnership can't be discriminated against, but singledom can - it's not state of marriage, but you can't be discriminated against just because you are married.

A person has the protected characteristic of marriage and civil partnership if the person is married or is a civil partner.
(2)In relation to the protected characteristic of marriage and civil partnership—
(a)a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person who is married or is a civil partner;
(b)a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons who are married or are civil partners.