IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
Between:
THE QUEEN ON THE APPLICATION OF TRISTRAM SPARROW[1]
APPLICANT
AND
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECTIONS
DEFENDANT
___________________
CASE STATED
___________________
On the morning of 20th February, 2012, Tristram Sparrow was seen to be standing outside the St. Martin’s School for Boys. He was distributing leaflets to pupils and parents. The police were alerted to his presence because a number of parents and teaching staff found the content of the leaflets to be disturbing and offensive.
The leaflets proclaimed what was said to be a ‘pan-faith’ message denouncing the ‘mortal sin’ of homosexuality. The following is an indicative selection of the leaflets’ contents:
“It is not our intention to cause any undue distress to any person who continues to struggle with unnatural homosexual urges. For our brothers and sisters who seek to turn their backs on the gay ‘lifestyle’ we offer support and prayer.
“It is sad to say that homosexuality is rife in our modern ‘free’ society, is it not enough that homosexual men and women defy the teaching of every significant religion? For the gay ‘community’ it would seem not. They continue to flaunt themselves in the most provocative fashion; have you seen footage of Gay Pride rallies? We urge you not to do so for there on open display to women and children alike are flagrant displays of gross, amoral indecency and horrifying acts of gratuitous public lewdness.
“Through a deceitful and clever campaign homosexuals have achieved protected status as a victimised minority. The gay lobby do not want us to talk about morality or health; instead they raise ‘human rights’ as a shield against all legitimate debate.
• The gay community is rife with infidelity; repeated studies have shown that gay men are up to three times more likely to have sexual relations with multiple partners. Gay women are hardly any better....