'Homophobic' Orkney under attack for ban on civil partnership

Gay rights campaigners have called for a tourist boycott of Orkney after one of the world's leading composers was banned from forming a civil partnership with his lover on the remote island of Sanday.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is master of the Queen's Music, and Colin Parkinson, 52, planned to hold their ceremony next month on Sanday, where they have lived for the past nine years.

Sir Peter, 72, had even composed a piece of music for the event, which was to be attended by stars from the classical and pop music worlds.

But their plans were put on hold after officials at Orkney Islands Council unexpectedly said the registrar, a friend of the couple, was not authorised to preside over the civil partnership. Instead, they would have to travel to Kirkwall on Orkney mainland for the ceremony.

Matters became further confused yesterday when it was reported that Orkney officials had also cited fears of a media circus and "unsuitable music" on Sanday as reasons to move the ceremony.

A furious Sir Peter condemned the ban as "downright discrimination" and pointed the finger at "religious fundamentalists".

He said: "Everybody can get married where they live except me, it seems. Ever since the law on civil partnerships was brought in, we thought that finally there was an opportunity to get married and to have a little celebration.

"Fundamental religious people, who delve into the Bible to justify their hatreds, still hold great sway. That kind of malignant influence is wrong. Most of the people here are fine and open, those who disapprove are in a minority."

Gay rights campaigners have now waded into the bitter dispute. Peter Tatchell said the publicity was damaging the image of the Orkney islands as a whole and warned that a tourist boycott could be the next stage in the row.

"This smacks of homophobia," he said. "There would be strong grounds for legal action. They seem to be attempting to undo the democratic decision of Parliament. Orkney council runs the risk of alienating potential tourists. If this ban remains I suspect there will be calls for a tourist boycott from the gay community. Even many heterosexual people feel revolted by discrimination. It is very damaging to Orkney's image and is a major PR blunder."

Michael Cashman, the former EastEnders actor and founder of Stonewall, who is now a Labour MEP, has called on Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to intervene. "It seems to me it's good, old-fashioned homophobia," he said. "In the past, the Government has said that such attitudes are unacceptable and probably not in line with the law. The relevant minister should move quickly to instruct the local authority to carry out the civil partnership."

Calum Irving, the director of gay rights campaign group Stonewall Scotland, said he would be taking up the matter with Orkney council.

"Civil partnerships are law now," he said. "It's hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something homophobic about this. Orkney should operate in the spirit and letter of the law and find a registrar who is able to undertake this service on Sanday."

The row comes as the Government prepares to introduce legislation in April banning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation for "goods and services" including health care and education.