Concern over Government 'ploy' on Sexual Orientation Regulations
Christians are being urged to contact their MPs over Government plans to rush through controversial sexual orientation regulations."After the recent news that the Government were delaying the England, Wales and Scotland Sexual Orientation Regulations by six months to deal with the ‘difficult issues’ which minister Ruth Kelly admitted had been highlighted by the response of faith groups to the consultation, it was a shock to find that behind the scenes the Government are rushing through identical Regulations in Northern Ireland (NI) using their direct rule powers, while the Northern Ireland Assembly remains suspended," explains Andrea Minichiello Williams, public policy officer of Christian Concern for our Nation.
"The Government have already published the final version of the NI SORs and they are expected to be put before Parliament for a vote in a matter of days – the Government have said they will be in force by 1 January.
"This means the NI Regulations which have received far less thought and consideration, and will set a precedent for the England, Wales and Scotland SORs which are not due to come into force until April 2007.
"To rush the NI law through without even waiting to respond to the many submissions received to the NI consultation is unjust and undemocratic. It is a tactic which appears to deliberately undermine the process of consultation that has gone on in England, Wales and Scotland. That the Government have done this in a place with such strong religious traditions and beliefs as Northern Ireland only worsens the situation.
"Finally, the NI Regulations dramatically extend the law beyond the original proposals. The NI consultation expressly stated that no law on harassment would be brought in, and yet only six weeks later, the published final Regulations do make it illegal to harass someone on the basis of their sexual orientation.
"This is extremely concerning because the definition of harassment relies largely on the perception of the person who claims they were harassed: all they need do is allege that someone has ‘violated their dignity’ or that someone created a ‘hostile or insulting environment’ for them, and they can take legal action."
Christian Concern to our Nation has written to all MPs and Peers and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, setting out the main points of concern, and is urging Christians to contact their local MP urging him or her to oppose this legislation.
· Articles on this issue can be found in The Telegraph (21 November), the Daily Mail (21 November), and the Observer (15 October).
· The most recent Information and Action Pack (including full practical details of the steps that can be taken by Christians) on the SORs for England, Wales and Scotland, can be found at http://www.christianconcernforournation.co.uk/sor/10nov6.php
· Background to the SORs and why they are such an important issue can be found at http://www.christianconcernforournation.co.uk/sor/index.php
