Another Islington Council Employee Refuses to Marry Gay Couples
Islington Council has become a battleground between christians and gays
Yet another employee at Islington Council has been refusing to marry gay couples. Theresa Davies, 58, has refused to conduct civil partnerships at Islington Register Office on religious grounds.
Miss Davies joins Lilian Ladele, as the second employee of Islington Council to say no to marrying gay couples because of her christian beliefs.
Miss Davies, who claims “I have nothing against homosexuals”, has secured the backing of the controversial Christian Legal Centre and is claiming she has been victim of discrimination against her beliefs in a grievance procedure against the council.
Her fight may be futile as the Employment Appeal Tribunal categorically overturned the decision of Lilian Ladele’s employment tribunal, refused to award costs, and refused her leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
There is a long history to Miss Davies’ issues with her employment dating all the way back to December 2005 when civil partnerships were introduced in the UK. At this time Miss Davies told her employers that she did not wish to perform civil partnerships, and in June 2006 she took 4 months off sick for ’stress’.
On her return the council explained to Miss Davies that they had no option but to demote her to receptionist level if she wished to remain employed in the department. Then, after her colleague Lilian Ladele won her employment tribunal against the council in July 2008 Miss Davies was put back on the general roster.
Lilian Ladele is also against civil partnerships
However, Lilian Ladele lost Islington Council’s appeal against her employment tribunal ruling in December 2008, and then in January 2009 Miss Davies refused to conduct a civil partnership for which she was rostered. Instead a colleague had to replace her and she was subject to a complaint.
Last week Islington Council demoted her to receptionist for the second time in a departmental restructuring.
Miss Davies is writing to all peers in the House of Lords as they consider removing an amendment which waters down recent laws that protect homosexuals.
In the meantime, it appears that other register offices are juggling rosters so that registrars who object to civil partnerships do not have to perform them.
Islington Council is to be commended by not fudging the issue in this way, and by standing firm on a matter of principle, saying “Islington council expects employees to provide services to all sections of the community.”
by staff writer
(c) copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
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