Mayor wins case over anti-gay bus ad ban
2013-03-22 21:49
London - Britain's high court says the mayor of London
acted lawfully when he banned bus ads from a Christian group suggesting that
homosexuality can be cured.
A Christian charity had challenged Mayor Boris Johnson's
decision, as chair of London's transport authority, to ban ads declaring:
"Not Gay! Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get over it."
Judge Beverley Lang said on Friday that Transport for
London had breached its own guidelines when it approved the ban.
But she said this was outweighed by factors against
running the ad, which would cause "grave offense" to many people and
increase "the risk of prejudice and homophobic attacks”.
The judge gave the charity, Core Issues Trust, permission
to appeal.
She said the case raised freedom of speech issues that
were of "fundamental importance”.
- AP
