Christians who suffered death threats and vandalism after being sued by a gay couple have put their B&B up for sale.
Hazelmary Bull speaking in 2011
Peter and Hazelmary Bull spent winter “shivering” and sometimes going “hungry” because of the crushing impact of equality laws.
The Bulls will only allow married couples to share a double bed at their guesthouse near Penzance in Cornwall because of their Christian beliefs.
Their policy, which applies to heterosexuals and homosexuals alike, has been in place since the business opened, and is well advertised.
Sued
But as soon as new gay rights laws were introduced in 2007, the Government’s tourism board for England struck the Bulls’ B&B off their approved list.
A few years later in 2011, the Bulls were successfully sued by gay couple Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy, who won £3,600 in damages.
The UK Supreme Court will hear the Bulls’ appeal next month in a case backed by The Christian Institute.
Threats
But in the meantime the B&B has been targeted with vandalism, wheel nuts have been removed from the Bulls’ car and recently a dead rabbit was nailed to their fence.
The B&B’s website was hacked and replaced with pornography, and the couple have received death threats.
The decision to sell the property – which is also their home – was not taken suddenly, Mrs Bull said.
Dread
“It was a gradual process; we just noticed more and more that we couldn’t make the mortgage repayments” she said.
“Last winter was terrible. We were actually shivering and were hungry. We are coming towards next winter and dreading it.
“In 2013, two people who worked all their lives at this have ended up cold and hungry. It’s not right.
Future
“This is like a death in the family. I never thought it would end like this. We are not facing the future with any real enthusiasm.”
The Bulls’ appeal to the UK Supreme Court, to be heard next month, is supported by The Christian Institute’s legal defence fund.
Spokesman Mike Judge said: “It’s a chilling view of equality which ends up treating a pair of honest Christians like this. I very much hope the UK Supreme Court introduces a more balanced approach.”