Birmingham primary school in LGBT row cleared by watchdog – The Guardian

‘A Birmingham primary school at the centre of a dispute with parents over lessons about LGBT rights has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Ofsted.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gay rugby player facing deportation allowed to leave holding centre – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bail, deportation, homosexuality, immigration, news, tribunals by sally

‘A gay rugby player who is facing deportation to Kenya, where he says he will be persecuted because of his sexuality, has been granted bail allowing him to leave the immigration centre where he was being held.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Proposed legislation to create heterosexual civil partnerships will still not create a “common law” marriage – Family Law

‘In June 2018 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of a heterosexual couple who had argued that their inability to formalise their relationship through a civil partnership was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Prime Minister indicated in October that she would legislate to give all couples the same choices as to how to achieve legal recognition of their relationship for the first time, writes Ashford’s family solicitor Emma Mackay.’

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Family Law, 22nd November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Case Comment: Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd & Ors [2018] UKSC 49 – UKSC Blog

‘It must be a rare moment in legal history, when cakes are at the centre of Supreme Court Knights_S_146668decisions in the same year on both sides of the pond.’

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UKSC Blog, 12th November 2018

Source: ukscblog.com

Relationships as seen in the eyes of the law – Family Law

‘Relationships have been in the news in 2018. Not only did we see two Royal weddings, but at the opposite end of the romance spectrum, in June the UK Supreme Court ruled that it was discriminatory not to allow opposite-sex couples to form civil partnerships. Dianne Millen, an associate at Morton Fraser in Edinburgh, looks at relationships as seen in the eyes of the law.’

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Family Law, 13th November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd and others – Blackstone Chambers

‘The Supreme Court unanimously and comprehensively reversed the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s decision in the “gay cake” case. The Supreme Court, in a decision of considerable significance for the United Kingdom as a whole, and beyond, held that the bakery would have refused to supply this particular cake to anyone, whatever their personal characteristics. So there was no discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. If and to the extent that there was an arguable case of discrimination on grounds of political opinion, no justification has been shown for overriding the bakery’s ECHR protections against compelled speech.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 10th October 2018

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

The inheritance tax burden and civil partnerships for cohabiting siblings: right idea, wrong approach? – Family Law

‘Family Law in Partnership director David Allison and associate Carla Ditz re-examine how and why civil partnerships came into being, the successful campaign to allow heterosexual couples to enter into a civil partnership and the proposals for 2committed siblings” to be able to form civil partnerships.’

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Family Law, 24th October 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Jacob Rowbottom: Cakes, Gay Marriage and the Right against Compelled Speech – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In the high-profile decision in Lee v Ashers, the Supreme Court had to consider a customer’s rights against discrimination along with the baker’s right to freedom of expression. In its finding for the baker, the Supreme Court took an important step in developing a domestic doctrine against ‘compelled speech’. While the outcome of the case divides opinion, the reasoning of the Court requires further consideration of when a person has a right not express a particular view.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th October 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Conscience and cake: the final chapter – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Lee v. Ashers Baking Company Ltd. On Wednesday the Supreme Court handed down its much-anticipated judgment in the ‘gay cake’ case. The Court unanimously held that it was not direct discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or political opinion for the owners of a Northern Irish bakery to refuse to bake a cake with the message ‘Support Gay Marriage’ on it, when to do so would have been contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th October 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Baker’s refusal to bake gay marriage cake not direct discrimination – OUT-LAW.com

‘A Christian bakery’s refusal to bake a cake iced with a message supportive of same sex marriage was not direct discrimination, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Gay cake’ row: Supreme Court rules in favour of Ashers – BBC News

‘The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have won their appeal in the so-called “gay cake” discrimination case.’

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BBC News, 10th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speech by Dr Victoria McCloud, Master of the Senior Courts: Rainbow Lives, Monochrome Laws – Reflections on law and identity – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Dr Victoria McCloud, Master of the Senior Courts: Rainbow Lives, Monochrome Laws – Reflections on law and identity.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st August 2018

UK to ban discredited ‘gay cure’ therapies under LGBT action plan – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2018 in health, homosexuality, mental health, news, transgender persons by sally

‘The government will appoint a national LGBT health adviser and take measures to end so-called conversion therapy as part of a plan to deliver what Theresa May has promised will be “real and lasting change”.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gay asylum seeker faces deportation from UK to Nigeria – The Guardian

Posted June 11th, 2018 in asylum, deportation, homosexuality, news by sally

‘A Nigerian asylum seeker who fled to Britain to escape prosecution for being gay is facing deportation after being held for six months in an immigration detention centre.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Big firms share LGBT knowledge in SRA mentoring scheme – Legal Futures

‘Small and medium-sized law firms will get free help and advice from some of the biggest firms in the country on how to become more inclusive employers under a pilot scheme launched this month by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 24th April 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Theresa May says she deeply regrets Britain’s legacy of anti-gay laws – The Guardian

Posted April 18th, 2018 in homosexuality, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘Theresa May has said that she “deeply regrets” Britain’s historical legacy of anti-gay laws across the Commonwealth as its 53 leaders gathered in London for their annual summit.’

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The Guardian, 17th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chambers could be forced to publish data on sexual orientation and religion – Legal Futures

Posted April 12th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, disclosure, diversity, homosexuality, news, privacy by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is considering a rule change which would mean chambers would have to include sexual orientation and religion in the diversity data they publish on their websites.’

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Legal Futures, 12th April 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Speech by Sir James Munby: Changing families – family law yesterday, today and tomorrow – a view from south of the Border – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir James Munby: Changing families – family law yesterday, today and tomorrow – a view from south of the Border.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st March 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Judges told to limit observers if witness has to remove veil – The Guardian

‘Judges should restrict the number of observers allowed into court when defendants or witnesses are compelled to remove their veil to give evidence, new guidance to judges recommends.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man found guilty of planning terror attack on Cumbria gay event – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2018 in autism, homosexuality, news, racism, terrorism by sally

‘A 20-year-old man has been convicted of preparing an act of terrorism after he planned to carry out a machete attack on a gay pride event in Cumbria.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com