The Sexual Orientation Regulations, which came into force on 1 January in Northern Ireland, are to be subject to a Motion for Annulment, proposed by Lord Morrow, at an hour-long debate today Tuesday 9 January, at 7.30 pm (during the dinner period). They may appear to be simply a matter concerning only Northern Ireland, but in fact their importance is much wider than that.
We are particularly disturbed by the representations made by some other religious groups, which imply that their own views are the only valid interpretation of Christian belief. In fact these matters are under intense and lively debate in virtually all quarters of Christendom and other religions.
“Pleas that ‘religious’ individuals and bodies” said Rev Richard Kirker, Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement [LGCM] today, “should be able to violate the rules being applied to and by the rest of society, by continuing to treat lesbian and gay people (including Christian people) with hostility and contempt, are both extremely hurtful in themselves, and a shameful witness to the rest of society.”
“A small group of fundamentalist Christians have led a wicked campaign of disinformation about these Regulations, making claims that anyone who bothered to read them could see were false.”
“They make spurious claims about the infringement of their religious liberties, when the regulations give them alone the right to continue to discriminate against lesbian and gay people. It is like having won the right to “hunt us with dogs” on their own property they now want to hunt us down wherever they choose.”
“The government has a clear task not to enlarge the ability for anyone to discriminate against homosexuals – the law could easily be made unenforceable if they do – but we are sure that is the intent of these misguided fanatical homophobes.”
