A Roman Catholic couple who accused Strathclyde Police of religious discrimination after categorising married couples and civil partners in the same group have won the first round of their employment tribunal.
Lucille and Frank Mc-Quade, from Motherwell, complained after their status as civilian employees of the force was changed from "married" to "married/civil partnership" in personnel records.
The couple, who have been married for 26 years, told the Glasgow tribunal last October they held religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of marriage and found the description "married/civil partnership" offensive, causing injury to their feelings as married persons. They argued this change to their "true legal and religious status" amounted to sex discrimination and religious discrimination.
They told the tribunal: "In maintaining a system which refuses to distinguish between the status of marriage and civil partnership when the aforementioned offence and injury to feelings has been made known to them, the respondent Strathclyde Police is making it clear that the status of married people and those with deeply-held religious beliefs on the Christian status of marriage is of no consequence and unworthy of consideration."
Strathclyde Joint Police Board denied the McQuades suffered any detriment. It argued the use of a separate category of "civil partnership" would disclose a person's sexual orientation which is a breach of guidelines from the conciliation service Acas.
It said there was no intention to denigrate the feelings of the McQuades, but it had to consider all employees.
In ruling that the case should proceed Jane Garvie, the employment judge, said the Acas guidance was just that - guidance - and she could not reach the view that the case had little reasonable prospect of success.
Mr McQuade, 49, is a communications officer with Strathclyde Police at Motherwell. Mrs McQuade, 46, has since left her post as a CID clerk and now works with the Catholic Parliamentary Office and Fertility Care Scotland.
The case will now go ahead before an employment tribunal at a later date.
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