Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 2:16pm
Hotel refutes same sex marriages claim
Comments (8) | 
Print | 
Email
Susan and Francis White making their protest outside the Westville Hotel.
The Enniskillen hotel whose Wedding Fair on Sunday was at the centre of allegations of promoting same sex marriages has strongly refuted the claims saying that the fair was for all couples regardless of religion, race or personal beliefs.
Sunday's Wedding Fair at the Westville Hotel was the target of a small protest from Francis and Susan Anne White who claimed that the event, which was hosted by gay celebrity wedding planners Ant and Dick, was sending out an "ambiguous" message.
They staged their protest outside the venue with a placard stating 'Biblical Marriage = 1 man and 1 woman' and were eventually moved on by the PSNI who were called by the management of the Westville Hotel.
In a letter to this paper the Whites said: "The hosts of the wedding fair have been involved in some of London's very first 'gay marriages'. So we felt that this wedding fair had a somewhat ambiguous view of marriage."
The Whites claim that they were moved on because their placard was provocative and they accused one of the police officers of being "obnoxious, threatening and intimidating".
However, the Westville Hotel and the celebrity hosts have refuted the claims.
Pat Cooley, General Manager of the Westville Hotel said: "The management of the Westville Hotel completely respect the right for any individual to protest for their beliefs, but the reason for this protest had no relation to the Wedding Fair. So out of respect for our guests, customers and visitors, we had to ask them to move on. The Westville Hotel is a business and as one, we have to focus on delivering a quality service and product to all guests and visitors regardless. I would like to thank Ant and Dick for visiting Enniskillen, they were very professional and entertaining throughout."
The celebrity hosts say it is the first time they have encountered such a protest.
Anthony Miller of Ant and Dick said: "We had a fantastic time in Enniskillen, to be honest we have never really encountered any protest elsewhere, we do not wish to offend any individuals and totally respect the protesters' beliefs, but at the end of the day we were here to help Fermanagh brides and do a day's work."
In a statement released this week Westville revealed that the protesters had contacted the Westville Hotel the week prior to the wedding fair, and were clearly informed that the two gentlemen were here on a paid professional capacity to provide wedding couples with their expert advice on creating a special wedding day regardless of the couples religion, colour, culture and any other personal beliefs/preferences. The Hotel did offer the protesters the opportunity to come and voice their concerns prior to the event, but this invitation was not accepted.
The hotel says that despite the protest the Fair was a success with 20 local trade stands and a large attendance. As for the celebrities at the centre of the protest, they say it will not put them off returning to Enniskillen.
Richard Jones (Dick) said: "I had never been in Enniskillen before and I shall definitely be informing our media contacts in the UK to come and explore the area. As for the protest, it's fine, I think they just perceived the event to be something it wasn't. These things happen."
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Andy
(Unregistered User)
Feb 5 10 19:31
Our Ref: 1344
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
I have a personal report from the Whites of the event and I have this to ask the Police (which I will be doing in writing)
Since when is holding a sign in a public a criminal offence (as claimed by one officer?
Since when is quoting the Bible a criminal offence?
Since when has 'threatening and intimidating' conduct from an officer to peaceful protesters become acceptable?
Since when has a businesses concern for its profits trumped the freedom to peaceful protest?
I shall certainly be writing to the Police involved and I encourage ALL freedom loving people to do the same.
Wake up Northern Ireland - the same intolerance of views that are dissenting to the prevailing culture of so called 'tolerance', 'diversity' and 'multi culturalism' is coming...and believe me they show little 'tolerance' and certainly don't show enough interest in 'diversity' to include Christians or dissenters!
Congratulations to the Whites - at least somebody is prepared to stand for righteousness and when the Lord asks 'Who will rise up for me against the evil doers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?' as he does in Psalm 94:16 - the Whites can say - WE WILL.
Andy Clarke
Christian Watch
Andy
(Unregistered User)
Feb 5 10 19:39
Our Ref: 1345
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
I've just read the Fermanagh Herald article on this incident - and one of the hosts is quoted as saying...
"It was a quiet enough protest. There was nothing intimidating about it. Did it annoy me? No, each person is entitled to their opinion."
So why the Police? Why did they have to take down their sign whilst in a public place? What offence have they committed to be told by a Police officer that if they persisted they would be arrested?
We may now have devolved Police powers - but I didn't expect a Police state quite so quickly!
Andy Clarke
Christian Watch
big dave
(Unregistered User)
Feb 6 10 21:03
Our Ref: 1347
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
protest all you like but the bottom line is people in Fermanagh live in the dark ages. there is no real need to protest about this, gay unions are perfectly normal.
you talk you righteousness, i reckon you lot are just ignorant
next thing you'll be saying is darwin was gay
Xenon
(Unregistered User)
Feb 11 10 13:56
Our Ref: 1352
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
Gay 'unions' are not normal. Homos*xual acts are acts of gross depravity and against the natural order and most people realise this, at least deep down. But bullied by the aggressive homos*xualist agenda, they shut up and keep quiet because they have been brainwashed by the pro-gay media into being 'tolerant', accepting', 'loving' etc... Real love is calling sin out for what it is. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Next thing you will be saying you don't mind if homos*xuals adopt children, or teach our children that homos*xuality is normal and healthy. Make no mistake, this agenda is not Godly. At the same time, we must love all people, for we are all sinners. Homos*xual persons must not be unjustly discriminated against, nor bullied and abused. But we must call sin what it is.
Xenon
(Unregistered User)
Feb 11 10 13:59
Our Ref: 1353
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
PS I don't know why it put '*' in my spelling of homos*xual. Did it do it again? Some kind of editing software on the Impartial website maybe? =p
Xenon
(Unregistered User)
Feb 14 10 00:13
Our Ref: 1376
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
Any activity that reduces the s*xuality of the body to something no more than a form of entertainment is narcissism because it seeks to make yourself seen through your desire for another person. When you look at another person with desire, you do not see a soul enrobed in chaste beauty; you see only the exuberant fantasy that your aching throb of loneliness might be alleviated through someone’s body. Narcissism makes your pleasure in having your body fondled the focus of your satisfaction. It makes your pleasure in playing with the body of another person—turning God’s temple into your toy—into the focus of your satisfaction. That’s self-love placed above love of God, isn’t it?
So those who defile chastity (and all the holy obligations it entails), for the sake of self-serving pleasure, persist in narcissism. It’s not a matter of the Church rejecting them; it’s they who reject the Church, for by placing self-love before love of God they refuse to repent their sins, thereby falling into unforgivable sin and preventing themselves from accepting God’s merciful call to forgiveness.
http://www.chastitysf.com/q_nice.htm
sheephead
(Unregistered User)
Feb 14 10 00:41
Our Ref: 1377
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
I wish that these do gooder christians would go back under the stones they crawled out from under. A lot of us couldn't care less about what that fictional work known as the bible says.
Mark
(Unregistered User)
Feb 18 10 00:16
Our Ref: 1380
Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
Report this comment
I can see that you put a lot of thought into your reply, sheephead. We do care about mankind and that is why we speak out.
For your convenience, you can now register with our website (which will save you from having to retype your name each time you post a comment). If you would like to do this (or have already!) then please Log in or Register