A gay couple has claimed a decorator refused to work on their house after discovering their sexual orientation.
Joshua and George, who preferred not to provide their full names, said the painter became awkward after visiting their home.
The couple said they later received a text from the tradesman, who refused to work for them, citing their faith.
They claimed they said that as a “practising Christian”, they could not complete the job under “recommended guidelines” from their church.
The two were left “shocked” by the experience but refused to reveal the identity of the decorator.
Joshua, 23, and his 26-year-old partner requested the paint job for their two-bed terrace home in Bristol.
He found the decorator online and asked them to visit their shared home – which they bought together in June 2022 – for a quote.
But they started acting unusually when they entered the master bedroom and asked whether his partner was in.
Joshua told ITV News he “first thought something was wrong” after he replied: “No he’s not.”
They left and messaged hours later, telling them they could not undertake their requested work, which Joshua said was just a “normal, boring paint job”.
Sharing the text on Twitter, he said the experience was “just another day in the life of a practising homo”.
The decorator said they conduct their business “according to recommended guidelines at my church”.
Refusing work on the basis of someone’s sexuality is illegal and discriminatory in the UK under the 2010 Equality Act.
Posting the message, Joshua said the experience was “just another day in the life of a practising homo – a tradesperson outright refusing to do some painting/decorating for me because of my sexuality”.
Speaking to PinkNews, Joshua said neither he nor his partner thought they would ever “be in a situation where this would happen to us”.
He added: “To be honest, it was disgusting, disappointing and baffling.”
The couple said they have complained to the decorator’s website but don’t plan to undertake any legal action.
