The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the Government decision not to give exemptions from equality law to religious organisations which wish to discriminate against gay and lesbian people.
Andrew Copson, responsible for education and public affairs at the BHA, said, ‘There was never any legitimate case for giving religious groups a loophole to continue to discriminate against gay people when society at large has recognised that such discrimination is deeply immoral.’
The BHA also hoped that the experience of the last few weeks will tip the balance in favour of an open secular society.
Hanne Stinson, BHA chief executive said, ‘A MORI poll last year showed that religious groups and leaders are the domestic group that the British public are most likely to say are paid too much attention by Government. It may be too much to hope that this announcement means that the Government has finally heard this message, but we hope events will tip the balance in favour of an open society with freedom of belief but no special privileges for any particular group.’
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For details of the MORI poll click here
For further comment or any enquiries email Andrew (Education and Public Affairs) or Hanne (Chief Executive) or telephone 020 7079 3584/3 or 07855 380633
The British Humanist Association is the largest organisation in the UK working for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular society.
The BHA’s work is firmly based in principles of human rights, equality and social cohesion, and the BHA’s executive director Hanne Stinson has been involved in the Equalities Review as a member of the reference group for that review and for the Discrimination Law Review.
You can read the BHA’s full original submission on the sexual orientation regulations here