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Lawyers issue warning after gay man awarded £47k compensation after bishop blocks employment
18/02/2008

The award of thousands of pounds to a gay Christian, who claimed a Bishop refused to give him a job because of his sexual orientation, should act as a warning to all employers, a leading discrimination lawyer said today.
John Reaney, a 42-year-old from North Wales, was awarded £47,000 after an employment tribunal ruled his appointment to the role of youth worker was blocked on the grounds of his sexuality by the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis.
Jonathan I`Anson, a partner at leading law firm Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, who run discriminationonline.com, said the ruling re-iterated that employers must be aware that recruiting on the basis of sexual orientation is unlawful.
He said: `The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 made discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation unlawful. This protection is also afforded to candidates at the recruitment stage. Employers must not select or discard candidates on the grounds of their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation.
`The situation where the employment is for the purposes of an organised religion remains more complex. In certain circumstances it may be possible for recruitment to be linked to sexual orientation , to take into account the doctrines of a religion. However, such circumstances are likely to be highly limited.
`This is obviously a fairly contentious issue as a particular sexual orientation may be at odds with the beliefs of some religions and religious organisations.
`However, the award of such a large amount of compensation should act as a warning to all employers and remind them of the importance of complying with the law.î
The case is the latest to highlight the conflict between religious organisations and equality laws.
In January, a row erupted between the Catholic church and the government over anti-discrimination laws.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, threatened to close Catholic adoption agencies unless they could opt out of the laws, which prevented them from refusing to place children with gay couples.


For further information contact Jonathan I'Anson at Brabners Chaffe Street on 0151 600 3159

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