British Hotel Bans Gay Sleepovers, While Scottish Castle Bans Gay Weddings

First, an English hotel is sued by two patrons who claim they were refused a stay in a double room because they’re gay. The owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull, say their Christian beliefs have them banning any unmarried couple, gay or straight. But what about Scotland’s Castle of Mey, home to the deceased Queen Mother, and its tradition of hosting wedding ceremonies? Sorry gays, but Christ has blocked you again!

While the Chymorvah Private Hotel’s owners squabble over equal rights and religious freedom, it’s the castle that’s causing controversy just a land mass’ hop away.

Caste of Mey’s trustees >insist the Queen would’ve wanted her home to play host to only those wedding ceremonies performed by a priest or minister. That is, Christian weddings only. But given that the castle doesn’t have a wedding license, and priests are independently licensed to perform the ceremonies, our kind aren’t welcome. (The castle would have to apply for a wedding license, it appears. Boo hoo.)

Ironically, neither are some royals. Reports the Telegraph: “The decision would have prevented the Prince of Wales – who is president of the trustees – from marrying at a castle that has been in his family since the 1950s. The Prince, known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay, married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 in a civil ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall.”

Naturally, some are in a row about it:

The homosexual and lesbian rights group Outrage claimed the Queen Mother would be “spinning in her grave”.

David Allison, a spokesman for the group, added: “This seems even more ridiculous given that The Queen Mother surrounded herself with gay people. Doing this at the Queen Mother’s old residence is particularly odd. She had no problem with gay people, quite the opposite.”

One prominent homosexual member of her staff was her servant the late William Tallon, who was Page of the Backstairs and known as Backstairs Billy. He was regularly seen by her side in the final years of her life.

Heh. Backstairs Billy. Cute.