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  Eugene Baston July 9, 2014 at 9:02pm

  I believe it's the gardens and grounds that need maintaining and if the quote is accepted peoples' personal circumstances have nothing to bear on my professionalism.

  Cheers, Eugene
• PRO

  Robbie July 9, 2014 at 9:09pm

  Something here in NI on the news at the moment... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28206581
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  matt evans July 9, 2014 at 9:15pm

  i have 4 same couples on my books, doesent bother me. Have quite a laugh with them!

  Anyway no, however I am very wary with the Asian community.
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  Andy Kenney July 9, 2014 at 9:15pm

  I only have the belief that customers should pay promptly on completion. Nationality, race, gender or sexual orientation has no bearing.
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  Daniel Lampard July 9, 2014 at 9:36pm

  Although I agree with the statements above that nationality and gender should have no bearing. Recently I have started to decline work if I get a feeling the customer is going to be a pain in the arse.
  
  However certain communities and nationalities are a nightmare to work for, don't want to pay any money, add jobs you didn't quite for and generally try it on!
• PRO

  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance July 9, 2014 at 9:40pm

  I have refused to do work in the past which was potentially harmful to wildlife e.g disturbing nesting birds.

  The fact that a couple are gay does not bother me. I have worked for a few in the past and found them to be excellent customers.
• PRO

  Gary RK July 9, 2014 at 9:46pm

  I would suggest you are walking into a potential minefield, especially as you had of met them and/or quoted.

  I remember this Hotel case from last year
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  Paul McNulty July 9, 2014 at 9:54pm

  I think that, if you're in the service industry, you need to serve the customer. Not judge them on your personal prejudices.

  It's perfectly legal to be a gay couple in the UK, and it's a cornerstone of our free society. There are plenty of countries where they still live in the dark ages, but I thought we'd got over this many years ago?
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  David Cox July 9, 2014 at 9:57pm

  Infact what you have just done if they became aware of it is potentially illigal, and you are on shakey ground as you have discriminated. If they knew your refusal to engage was based on a prejudice against their sexuality, they have been discriminated against.
  The key bit here is you said your belifes and the law makes clear you cannot use your personal beliefs to make decisions in a business you own if those beliefs could be seen as discrimination by the person on the receiving end.

  A good court case recently against a B&B Who refused to do business with a same-sex couple and were sued succesfully ;
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25119158

  I myself, think that what people do between consenting adults is none of my concern, I would only limit my work to not harming wildlife, breaking the law and generally doing my best not to be an arse.
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  briggsandscrapem July 9, 2014 at 10:01pm

  I feel sorry for you Peter.

  However on a practical level, where do you draw the line ? So a lucrative commercial contract comes up and you turn it down because you don't like the M.D's sexual orientation ?

  Do you buy with the same moral standards too ? That could be a real minefield.