LONDON CITY

> Devout Christian Joe Fairclough, 58, describes homosexuality as a
> sin and has protested against adoption rights for gay couples.

>Steve Greene wrote:
>> Devout Christian Joe Fairclough, 58, describes homosexuality as a
>> sin and has protested against adoption rights for gay couples.
>
>Doesnt the bible tell us we should be tolerant of others?
>

> http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1019871 man jailed in antigay
row
>
> A CAMPAIGNER against gay rights was locked in a police cell for eight
> hours after he refused to be served by a homosexual librarian.
>
> Devout Christian Joe Fairclough, 58, describes homosexuality as a sin
> and has protested against adoption rights for gay couples.
>
> Now he has been banned from his local library after telling a gay
> employee he wanted to be served by a different member of staff because
> he was opposed to same-sex `marriage.
>
> Mr Fairclough, a married father of three, was arrested after making the
> remarks and put in police custody before being released without charge.
>
> The incident happened at Leigh Library. The body which runs it on behalf
> of Wigan Council has defended its decision to ban Mr Fairclough for
> `unacceptable behaviour.
>
> Police say he was arrested for a public order offence when two library
> employees complained that his comments caused them alarm and distress.
>
> But after being interviewed, Mr Fairclough was not charged as there was
> insufficient evidence to prove that he intended to cause distress.
>
> Trouble flared after a member of staff, who is gay and has been through
> a civil partnership ceremony, offered to help Mr Fairclough with an
> inquiry.
>
> Mr Fairclough said: I asked him if anyone else could help me, and he
> asked why. I pointed towards a ring on his finger and said I didnt
> approve of two men being married. He then told me I was barred.
>
> I went back the next day and two members of staff told me to leave
> because I had insulted their colleague. I refused. A caretaker came over
> and eventually the police came.
>
> A police constable took me into a square outside the library and I gave
> him my side of the story, but he did not take notes.
>
> Mr Fairclough, a semi-retired plumber, went to Leigh Police station to
> complain about the way he had been treated. But he was arrested after
> police received complaints about his behaviour.
>
> He said he was held eight and a half hours. When he was released at
> 11.30pm the bus station was shut so he had to walk home to Leigh.
>
> He added I am against homosexuality but I dont wish anyone any harm.
>
> The library worker involved said Mr Faircloughs remarks were `very
> homophobic.
>
> A spokesman for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust said: We take a serious
> view of verbal abuse, intimidation or violence against any of our staff.
>
> This wasnt an isolated case and our code of conduct has a variety of
> sanctions, including banning people from our facilities.
>
> Previously Mr Fairclough had put comments, deemed homophobic, on the
> library notice board and staged a protest outside the library against
> the adoption rights of gay couples.
>
> A police spokesman said: The library customers behaviour was
> unacceptable and was the culmination of a number of incidents involving
> this man at the library over the course of a year.

> On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:00:02 +0100, in uk.politics.misc, for Re: Man
> jailed in anti-gay row, (not quite so) Fat Sam
> , wrote
>
>> Steve Greene wrote:
>>> Devout Christian Joe Fairclough, 58, describes homosexuality as a
>>> sin and has protested against adoption rights for gay couples.
>>
>> Doesnt the bible tell us we should be tolerant of others?
>>
>
> That is just soooo sweet. Youre a really biblical guy, eh?
>
> FACE

>FACE wrote:
>> On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:00:02 +0100, in uk.politics.misc, for Re: Man
>> jailed in anti-gay row, (not quite so) Fat Sam
>> , wrote
>>
>>> Steve Greene wrote:
>>>> Devout Christian Joe Fairclough, 58, describes homosexuality as a
>>>> sin and has protested against adoption rights for gay couples.
>>>
>>> Doesnt the bible tell us we should be tolerant of others?
>>>
>>
>> That is just soooo sweet. Youre a really biblical guy, eh?
>>
>> FACE
>
>No. Definitely not.
>Im very anti religion. You entirely missed the sarcasm in my post.
>

> On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:00:02 +0100, in uk.politics.misc, for Re: Man
> jailed in
> anti-gay row, (not quite so) Fat Sam
> ,
> wrote
>
>>Steve Greene wrote:
>>> Devout Christian Joe Fairclough, 58, describes homosexuality as a
>>> sin and has protested against adoption rights for gay couples.
>>
>>Doesnt the bible tell us we should be tolerant of others?
>>
>
> That is just soooo sweet. Youre a really biblical guy, eh?