‘Same Sex Discrimination’: Care Home Denied Grants

In countries like India, you might perhaps lose your accommodation if your sexual orientation is found ‘unacceptable.'

But in the UK, authorities trying to ensure equal access to all, have stopped grants to a care home because it would not demonstrate its commitment to ‘non-discrimination’ by finding out the sexual inclination of its elderly inmates.

Tensions began last year when The Brighton and Hove Council imposed stricter criteria on organizations it supported to 'comply' with the Equality Act 2006 and the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.

It circulated a questionnaire to the Pilgrim Home in Egremont Place, Brighton, which houses 39 single Christians aged over 80, including former missionaries and a minister.

Phil Wainwright, director of human resources for Pilgrim Homes, said he was told by the council the home had to ask residents if they were lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual or 'unsure,' even if they objected. Many of the elderly rebelled, however, and the home wrote to the council saying residents did not want to participate.

Mr Wainwright said: 'There was a strong feeling among people in the home that the questions were inappropriate and intrusive. They felt they had come to Pilgrim Homes because of its Christian ethos and were upset they were not protected from such intrusions.'

But Brighton & Hove Council complained about the home's 'negative response' and argued that because the home had a Christian ethos, gay people might be deterred from applying.

They cited the 'resistance' to using images of elderly gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in the home's leaflets, saying this meant gays and lesbians 'would not feel comfortable' applying for a place.

The council then announced it was axing a grant of £13,000 grant towards warden services because there had been 'limited progress' in making the home accessible to the homosexual community, Daily Mail reports.

Mr. Wainwright said the charity was open to anyone with orthodox beliefs.

He said: 'We have every reason to believe that we have given places to gay Christians, and no questions were ever asked. The council hasn't demonstrated any discrimination on our part. We believe it is Brighton Council that is institutionally discriminatory.'

Andrew Jessop, the charity's chief executive, said: 'The council has taken overzealousness to the extreme. People in their 90s are very vulnerable and shouldn't be treated in this way.'

The charity now fears other councils could follow suit. Care of hundreds of elderly and over £100,000 in grants are at stake, and hence it is going to sue the council.

But Brighton & Hove Council said: 'We have never expected any residents to answer questions about their sexuality if they preferred not to do so.

'The Government specifically states the home must be open to the gay and lesbian community and that it must demonstrate this to qualify for funding. In the absence of any willingness to do this, funding has been withdrawn.'

Opposition leaders are reacting strongly. David Davies, Tory MP for Monmouth, said: 'It is absolutely disgraceful that the council has tried to get 90-year-olds, from a generation that wasn't obsessed with sex, to put intimate information on to one of its forms.'

Source-Medindia
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