Anger as gay couple called 'sexual deviants' by hotelier

A GAY couple have complained to tourism officials after they were refused a room by a Scottish hotelier who branded them "sexual deviants".

Stephen Nock, 34, and his partner were told they could not stay in a double room in the VisitScotland-recommended guest house because their relationship was "unnatural".

The couple, from London, were hoping to have a four-day walking holiday in Wester Ross and stay at the Cromasaig guest house at Kinlochewe.

But Mr Nock was told in an exchange of e-mails that "two gents" could only book a twin room because the B&B would not "condone perversion". In one e-mail, Tom Forrest, the owner of the three-star Cromasaig, wrote: "We do not have a problem with your personal sexual deviation, that is up to you.

"You are welcome to our twin room if you wish, but we will not condone your perversion." When Mr Nock replied informing the owner that he was complaining to the tourist board following the "homophobic e-mail", Mr Forrest insisted he was not bigoted and wrote: "Bigot? No! - respect for our other guests.

"Homophobic? No!, I have no hatred or fear of poofs etc. I just do not approve of unnatural acts being performed in my home."

Mr Nock said: "I am shocked and appalled that attitudes like that still exist. You do not expect it from someone who is running a public service to discriminate a person’s sexual preference."

Mr Nock has asked VisitScotland to remove the guest house from its list of recommended accommodation.

The tourist board has written to Mr Forrest asking that he does not discriminate against guests on the basis of sexual orientation.

But Mr Forrest, who has run his guest house for 11 years, says he will not be told which guests to accept. He said: "I stand exactly by what I said. I called them ‘poofs’ and will continue to call them that.

"I am not homophobic. I have got friends who are homosexual and they call themselves ‘poofs’. We have families coming to stay. I have had bent people come stay with us and they have been nice. But they have been staying in a twin room and they respect our wishes.

"I will not have the tourist board telling me that I should welcome these people into my house to share a double room.

"I am not going to have my life ruled - it is heterosexual people who are being discriminated against."

Barbara Clark, of VisitScotland, said: "We are looking into the incident, but are confident this kind of attitude is not mirrored across the vast proportion of Scotland."