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Town Hall ready to appeal against gay "sinners" registrar tribunal decision
COUNCIL chiefs say they are determined to overturn an employment tribunal decision that found in favour of a Christian registrar who refused to marry gay couples because they were “sinners”.
But the Town Hall’s legal team, which spent £35,000 before losing the case, is yet to receive confirmation from the court service that there are grounds for an appeal.
Lillian Ladele, from Skinner Street, Finsbury, won a ruling in May after being threatened with the sack for refusing to conduct civil partnership ceremonies in Islington Town Hall.
The 47-year-old was awarded compensation and costs after the tribunal found she had been discriminated against because of her religious beliefs. The Employment Appeal Tribunal court service is expected to reach a decision on the second hearing by the end of the year.
Executive member for human resources Cllr John Gilbert said: “This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly, but we believe an important question is at stake and the law must be clarified.”
Gino Meriano, Founder of Pink Weddings Ltd and gay rights campaigner for same-sex families says ”It must be time to stop all this nonsense. Civil Partnerships are now part of history and definitely law now.
Registrars have a duty to uphold the law and leave their religious beliefs at home. Lillian has a duty to act upon and using the faith card is a joke. Our fight for equality is no joke.
If Lillian has such strong religious beliefs (she feels obliged to live by) then the registration service is not a place for her, but the church is. It would have been an interesting argument if she was challenged over race, belief, divorce and even mixed race marriages - but these are now part of society as are Civil Partnerships. One can only imagine that Lillian must of experienced similar issues prior to the Civil Partnership Act being passed with performing Marriages for divorcees.
We as an inclusive community must stand together and help Islington Council win their case and prove we will not be bullied back into the closet by short sighted people.
CALL FOR ACTION : I call on the community to support a campaign to help Islington Council rid Homophobia from its statutory services. How?
• Sign our petition - http://www.ipetitions.com/peti...
• When the date/details of the appeal are announced, join us outside the court to show support for Islington Council and our rights for equality.
Gino Meriano
Gay Rights Campaigner for same-sex families
News item from Islington Tribune
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