AN ONLINE poll carried out today by IOM.co.im shows that a depressing number of respondents – 55 percent – believe that it should not be against the law for a landlord to discriminate against potential tenants on the grounds of race, religion, disability or sexuality.

Just 33 percent said such legislation should have been passed years ago.

AN ONLINE poll carried out today by IOM.co.im shows that a depressing number of respondents – 55 percent – believe that it should not be against the law for a landlord to discriminate against potential tenants on the grounds of race, religion, disability or sexuality.

Just 33 percent said such legislation should have been passed years ago.

The poll was launched following the controversial refusal of a house tenancy to a lesbian couple – Laura Cull and Kira Izzard  – by a local Methodist preacher, Keith Price.

On a more positive note, more than 1,400 people have signed a petition for equality legislation launched last Thursday by the couple .

The Isle of Man’s Chief Minister Allan Bell slammed Price’s “ugly, outdated religious prejudice” and promised to introduce legislation that will outlaw this sort of unacceptable discrimination.

Laura, 29, and Kira, 26, live in Governor’s Hill, Douglas, and are due to enter into a civil partnership later this year.