Youth hostel discrimination.

[geoffrey]

A young man and his girlfriend booked into an independent youth hostel in Brighton. They asked to be accommodated in single sex dorms but when they arrived they had an all-female dorm for the young lady but had no all-male dorms at all so only offered the young man a mixed-sex dorm which he refused. They asked for a refund but it was refused and they stayed in a nearby hotel that cost them much more. Our youth organisation checked this out and we were told that they have only female and mixed dorms but no male dorms claiming that all-male dorms may encourage homosexuality! Equal Opportunities UK state that this is illegal but will take no action. They feel cheated so what can they do? (There is a YHA youth hostel opening in Brighton soon so the problem will not happen again).

[stevemLS]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

Who are Equal Opportunities UK? Can find no reference to them.

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unlawful, if claim is of what they were told is capable of being evidenced claim may follow.

Nothing, on the other hand, against providing only male and female dorms.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

A young man and his girlfriend booked into an independent youth hostel in Brighton. They asked to be accommodated in single sex dorms but when they arrived they had an all-female dorm for the young lady but had no all-male dorms at all so only offered the young man a mixed-sex dorm which he refused. They asked for a refund but it was refused and they stayed in a nearby hotel that cost them much more. Our youth organisation checked this out and we were told that they have only female and mixed dorms but no male dorms claiming that all-male dorms may encourage homosexuality! Equal Opportunities UK state that this is illegal but will take no action. They feel cheated so what can they do? (There is a YHA youth hostel opening in Brighton soon so the problem will not happen again).

Who are Equal Opportunities UK and what exactly is illegal? To say that male dorms encourage homosexuality or not to offer male dorms? As far as I know, hostels are allowed to offer both single sex and mixed dorms as they wish.

[wales01man]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

And the problem is?

[geoffrey]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

the problem is that the young lady was offered a choice of all female or mixed dormitories but the young male was not offered any choice as they only had mixed sex accommodation for males. That is gender discrimination and it is illegal.

[wales01man]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

If its that much of a problem go somewhere else its all a bit trivial IMO.Im sitting here watching the news about of 450 soldiers dying in Afghanistan ,mixed dormitories ?????????//

[Amethyst]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

Equality Act 2010

D Communal accommodation

3(1)A person does not contravene this Act, so far as relating to sex discrimination or gender reassignment discrimination, only because of anything done in relation to—

(a)the admission of persons to communal accommodation;

(b)the provision of a benefit, facility or service linked to the accommodation.

(2)Sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not apply unless the accommodation is managed in a way which is as fair as possible to both men and women.

(3)In applying sub-paragraph (1)(a), account must be taken of—

(a)whether and how far it is reasonable to expect that the accommodation should be altered or extended or that further accommodation should be provided, and

(b)the frequency of the demand or need for use of the accommodation by persons of one sex as compared with those of the other.

(4)In applying sub-paragraph (1)(a) in relation to gender reassignment, account must also be taken of whether and how far the conduct in question is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

(5)Communal accommodation is residential accommodation which includes dormitories or other shared sleeping accommodation which for reasons of privacy should be used only by persons of the same sex.

(6)Communal accommodation may include—

(a)shared sleeping accommodation for men and for women;

(b)ordinary sleeping accommodation;

(c)residential accommodation all or part of which should be used only by persons of the same sex because of the nature of the sanitary facilities serving the accommodation.

(7)A benefit, facility or service is linked to communal accommodation if—

(a)it cannot properly and effectively be provided except for those using the accommodation, and

(b)a person could be refused use of the accommodation in reliance on sub-paragraph (1)(a).

(8)This paragraph does not apply for the purposes of Part 5 (work) unless such arrangements as are reasonably practicable are made to compensate for—

(a)in a case where sub-paragraph (1)(a) applies, the refusal of use of the accommodation;

(b)in a case where sub-paragraph (1)(b) applies, the refusal of provision of the benefit, facility or service.

[wales01man]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

No problem really

[Amethyst]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

In your opinion wales. To a young boy in that situation it could be extremely important - although only have femaile single sex dorms available is not against the law the reasons given by the hostel in question for no male single sex dorms ARE indirectly discriminatory.

Regulation 3 of The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 provides that a person (“A”) discriminates against another (“B”) if, on the grounds of the sexual orientation of B or any other person except A, A treats B less favourably than he treats or would treat others.

These are the people to speak to http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

[wales01man]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

When I was a young boy I would have been ok with a mixed dorm im sure it does give some privacy

[Kati]

Re: Youth hostel discrimination.

When I was a young boy I would have been ok with a mixed dorm im sure it does give some privacy

I thought all the bunk beds had curtains on them at least (like in this dorm at the YMCA in Bath) and the showers/loos would be private ...