GRAND FORKS, British Columbia – A same-sex couple in British Columbia have won their human rights case against a Christian bed and breakfast which refused to let them stay.
The Province reported that Brian Thomas and Shaun Eadie had booked a room at the Riverbend Bed and Breakfast in Grand Forks, back in June 2009.
But their reservation was cancelled shortly after the establishment’s owners, Susan and Les Molnar, realized the two men were a gay couple.
The Molnars said that homosexuality is incompatible with their Christian beliefs and argued that they ran their business as a ministry, giving a share of the profits to the Mennonite Church.
Tribunal member Enid Marion said in her ruling that she accepts the Molnars have firm convictions.
However, Riverbend was run out of a portion of the Molnars’ home, and constituted a commercial activity subject to laws preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation, said Marion.
The tribunal ordered the Molnars to pay each man $1,500, as well as travel expenses and wages lost while they attended last year’s two day hearing.
