BHA: Any discrimination is unacceptable

Tuesday, 09, Jan 2007 12:00

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called on the government to back the sexual orientation regulations.

A protest by religious groups against the regulations, which prevent businesses from refusing services to people on the grounds of sexual orientation, will be held outside parliament tonight.

In a statement, the BHA said: "What these religious groups are saying is that they want to continue discriminating, even if society at large has recognised through law that such discrimination as wrong.

"Unfair treatment is unfair no matter what motivates it, and we hope that the government will be unequivocal in the protection it offers to people of all sexual orientations."

The Lords will today debate an amendment that would state: "Nothing in these regulations shall force an individual to act against their conscience or strongly held religious beliefs."

The BHA said such an exemption "would not be acceptable in the areas of race, disability, age or religion or belief, and is not acceptable here".