Sarah writes to Meg Munn MP on behalf of YLGC. (Jan 2007)

< back

Dear Ms Munn,

Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations

We are writing to you as lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians to express our support for legislation banning discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

We welcome the approach in the Northern Ireland Regulations to the controversial matter of religious exemptions, and urge you as Equalities Minister and the rest of the Government to stand firm in taking the same approach for the rest of the UK . That is – any exemptions should only be for internal doctrinal matters such as baptism and confirmation. It should not be lawful to refuse lesbian, gay and bisexual people services offered to the public such as hospices, schools and adoption services.

No one has the right to adopt, but sexual orientation should not be a bar to being considered a potential adoptive parent. Several of us look after children, through our work in health, education, social services and youth work.

We were saddened to read the recent letters from the Catholic and Anglican Archbishops, and to hear of protests from some Christian organisations, calling for an exemption for religious organisations providing public services. We believe any exemptions would reinforce a prejudiced view that lesbian, gay and bisexual people should be excluded from areas of society, in a law that is meant to combat prejudice and discrimination. As Christians ourselves, we believe that our faith calls us to a different response: to stand against discrimination and affirm that no one should be treated as a second class citizen. We hope that our voices will also be heard as part of this debate.

Yours sincerely