Religion

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA)  has welcomed the recent legal ruling against a Relationship Councillor who was dismissed for refusing to work with Lesbian or Gay couples.

This follows earlier rulings against a Christian registrar who demanded the right to refuse to perform Civil Partnership ceremonies, and a Christian nurse who wished to wear a crucifix in defiance of a ban against jewellery.

A backlash, led by such influential figures as former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has demanded that religious believers be granted special exemptions from performing duties that are not in keeping with their religious beliefs, and  even recommended the establishment of special courts which are more attuned to religious views.

Read more: Legal Ruling Welcomed

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has serious concerns about reports that Westminster City Council's plans to encourage religious street pastors in the borough, including in Soho.

The Street Pastor movement is backed by Christian groups including evangelist sects bitterly opposed to gay equality, gay adoption and even gay partnerships. This raises the question of whether the Council, responsible for the welfare of all residents, should promote this activity. GALHA desires a society where  people whatever their views or  sexuality should enjoy equal freedom, dignity and respect without fear of prejudice and the "moral" judgement of the religious.

GALHA Chair Adam Knowles commented, "Soho is one of the few parts of Britain where LGBT people can be free and open about their sexuality in the way that straight people can take for granted wherever they are. And even here there have been violent homophobic attacks - including one particularly brutal, public murder just a year ago.

Read more: Anti-Gay Street Pastor Warning

David Cameron has answered questions from The Catholic Herald about sex education in faith schools and other topics.

He was asked if he would allow Catholic schools complete freedom over the teaching of sex education, including on abortion and contraception. His worrying answer would allow faith schools to teach sex education in line with their often homophobic values.

Cameron says, "Schools should be allowed to teach it in a way that’s consistent with their beliefs, and parents should be free to decide whether or not their children should take part in these lessons. That’s why we back the amendment to the Bill to allow faith schools the freedom to teach these issues in line with their own values. I think parents who have chosen a faith-based education for their children should have that decision respected. I’m a big supporter of faith schools and I think it’s really important that their rights are protected in this way."

Read more: Cameron's Worrying Answer to Faith School Sex Ed

New research conducted by ManCentral.com reveals that men of Islamic and Christian faith are most likely to struggle with their sexuality.

Despite wider acceptance and understanding of homosexuality in the UK over the past 50 years, ‘coming out’ still remains as one of the biggest hurdles that gay and bisexual men face. Whilst friends and family are commonly cited as the source of fear, recent statistics reveal that religious beliefs are proving problematic for many gay men.

More than 5,000 members of the free gay dating website ManCentral.com were asked what they felt was the most problematic for them when coming to terms with their sexual orientation. 12% of openly gay men cited religion as their biggest obstacle, whilst a further 15% of closet men struggled with their religious beliefs.

Read more: Thou Shalt Not Be Gay?

Late last night Stonewall’s latest amendment to the Equality Bill – to permit civil partnerships to be held in religious premises – was passed in the House of Lords by a majority of 74. The amendment, tabled by Lord Alli, was supported by peers across parties, including former Conservative Party Chairman Lord Fowler and Lord Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford.

‘This further step towards equality is a real victory for religious reason over those Church of England and Roman Catholic bishops who’ve tried to bully other denominations in recent weeks,’ said Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill. Quakers and Liberal Jews were among those denominations which supported the amendment.

During the debate Lord Alli, the only openly-gay peer, said: ‘Religious freedom cannot begin and end with what one religion wants. It has to apply equally to the Quakers as it does to the Church of England and to the Liberal Jews as it does to the Catholic Church.’ The Government opposed the amendment although it permitted its backbenchers a free vote after the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had offered the same. The proposal was passed by 95 votes to 21 shortly before 11pm, after a lengthy debate.

Read more: House of Lord Yes to Gay Weddings in Church