This remains a stunning case of government-enabled vengeance . The kind of hatred homosexuals must have to go after kind, hard-working, loyal, law-abiding, retired Christian Canadians like this is astounding. That a government agency would serve as the enabler of this kind of vindictiveness in a non-Nazi, non-Islamofascist society is distressing. Canada human rights machine needs to be shut down right now.
Read the complete article here.
Vancouver Sun – June 10, 2010
Retired couple shut down their B&B after discrimination complaint against them
Hearing to determine whether owners had right to deny gay couple a room
By Kim Pemberton
A Grand Forks couple at the “centre of a firestorm” after refusing to provide accommodation to a gay couple have shut down their bed and breakfast despite doing major renovations on their home to facilitate the business, their lawyer said Thursday. Owners Lee and Susan Molnar referred all questions to their lawyer but Lee added “we’ve been harassed so bad we’re not running [the B&B].”
Their lawyer, Ronald Smith, said the Molnars are “devastated” but also feel they can’t continue to operate Grand Forks Riverbend Bed and Breakfast for fear they will be asked again “to violate their religious beliefs” by renting to a gay couple. Smith is representing the couple in a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal case that was supposed to begin today but was postponed. “They’re just a retired couple in Grand Forks who thought they would open their home to guests and here they are in the centre of a firestorm,” Smith said. “They’re a lovely couple. They don’t want to be thought of as discriminating but they’re Christians who don’t feel they can violate their religious beliefs.”
The human rights hearing, scheduled for two days this week in Kelowna, was postponed after the lawyer for Shaun Eadie and Brian Thomas became ill. A new date has yet to be scheduled.
The hearing will look into whether Eadie and Thomas, who tried to book a room at the B&B on June 18, 2009, were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation when they were turned away. According to the complaint, Eadie called the B&B, spoke with Susan Molnar and reserved the Swan room for the following two nights. He was told it would be cash only at $80 per night, which Eadie agreed to pay. Molnar took their names, Shaun and Brian, and the conversation ended. About five to 10 minutes later, Lee Molnar called back and asked whether they were a gay couple. When Eadie said yes, Molnar replied “then this is not going to work out,” according to the complaint filed in July 2009 by the couple.
In an earlier application to have the complaint dismissed, Lee Molnar stated “to allow a gay couple to share a bed in my Christian home would violate my Christian beliefs and would cause me and my wife great distress.” The application to dismiss the complaint was turned down.