Clause 2 - Marriage according to religious rites: no compulsion to solemnize etc

Part of Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:00 pm on 28 February 2013.

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Photo of David Burrowes David Burrowes Conservative, Enfield, Southgate 2:00, 28 February 2013

I beg to move amendment 34, in clause 2, page 2, line 22, at end insert—

‘(3A) No person shall be subject to discrimination or other unfavourable action in the course of employment or in the provision of goods or services for stating or teaching that a same sex marriage is not morally equivalent to a marriage between a man and a woman.

(3B) Where a person alleges in any proceedings that there has been discrimination or other unfavourable action against him for reasons which include that he has stated or taught that a same sex marriage is not morally equivalent to a marriage between a man and a woman, it shall be for the person against whom those proceedings are brought to prove that the reasons for the action constituting the alleged discrimination or other unfavourable treatment did not include those statements or teaching regarding same sex marriage.

(3C) The reference in subsection (3A) above to discrimination or other unfavourable action in the course of employment or in the provision of goods or service includes—

(a) discriminating by not concluding a contract of employment with the person stating or teaching that a same sex marriage is not morally equivalent to a marriage between a man and a woman,

(b) discriminating by not concluding a contract for the provision of goods or services with the person stating or teaching that a same sex marriage is not morally equivalent to a marriage between a man and a woman,

(c) not offering a benefit, whether financial or not, to the person stating or teaching that a same sex marriage is not morally equivalent to a marriage between a man and a woman that is or would be offered to a person stating or teaching that a same sex marriage is morally equivalent to a marriage between a man and a woman.’.