Churches refusing to employ gays
The European Commission is putting pressure on the British government to drop the exemptions from equality legislation by religious organisations who currently have the right to refuse to employ LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) staff.
The opt out allows churches and other organisations to refuse to employ gay people in order "to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion's followers". Although there have been successful cases at employment tribunals questioning the implementation and interpretation of the opt-out.
The National Secular Society had complained to the commision saying that the current exemptions "illegal discrimination against homosexuals". EU equal opportunities commissioner, Vladimir Špidla, told the Observer: "We call on the UK government to make the necessary changes to its anti-discrimination legislation as soon as possible so as to fully comply with the EU rules."
The ruling means the government will be be forced to place new clauses into the Equality Bill which is currently making its way through parliament. But it will still allow churches to refuse to employ a gay man as priest for example. "This ruling is a significant victory for gay equality" gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell told the Observer.
