Gay couple discriminated against, B.C. tribunal rules

The owners of a Grand Forks bed and breakfast illegally discriminated against a gay couple when they denied the pair a room three years ago, a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled.

The Tribunal decision issued Tuesday said Brian Thomas and Shaun Eadie suffered "indignity and humiliation" when the owners of Riverbend B&B refused them a room because they are homosexuals.

Eadie had tried in 2009 to make a reservation, but owners Les and Susan Molnar refused them.

In a tribunal hearing last fall,the Molnars argued their refusal to rent the room was basedon their Christian religious beliefs.

But the tribunal ruled that, as the Molnars operated theirbed andbreakfast as a business, they were required to comply with the laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Thomas said he and Eadie are happy they stood up for their principles.

"Sometimes you have to stick your neck out, and we stuck our necks out and we feel good and vindicated that we did for the benefit of people coming behind us," Thomas said.

The Molnars were ordered to pay the couple about $4,400 in compensation and expenses. They did not return calls from CBC News for comment.