A Christian teacher from London is under investigation because she refused to give a lesson telling children that all opponents of gay marriage are homophobes.
The unnamed teacher didn’t think it was a “fair characterization of the debate,” she says, but is now under investigation at her school.
She is also under suspicion for being a member of a church, and a colleague is demanding to know whether it impacts her job.
The case was raised in the House of Lords during a debate about the government’s controversial same-sex marriage bill.
Lord Dear told peers, “I will quote from a letter that was sent to me at the end of last week by a firm of solicitors in Witney in Oxfordshire.
“It stated: ‘I am happy to confirm the attached letter, addressed to you by Mrs. X, in relation to an investigation against her in her school, which is an honest summary of a genuine incident. I am aware of the facts of the case. I am also aware that Mrs. X wishes to remain anonymous at this stage because an investigation is ongoing.’”
Dear went on to quote directly from the teacher’s letter: “‘I am a teacher at a … girls’ school in South London. I have been employed by the school for 17 years. During March … I was instructed to deliver a presentation, which included material stating, in effect, that any disagreement with same-sex marriage was de facto homophobia. I felt this was not a fair characterization of the debate and it was one that conflicted with my own deeply held religious beliefs. I raised my concerns with the teacher in charge.’”
Breaking off from the letter, Dear said, “I will shorthand the next bit. She complained to the teacher in charge, who allowed her her position and let her teach elsewhere. However, another colleague raised a complaint.”
Quoting again from the teacher’s letter, Dear said, “‘The head teacher investigated the incident and concluded there was no case to answer.
“‘Another colleague, who is also a union rep, then followed up the complaint, and has formally raised additional concerns about my Christian beliefs and my membership of a church.
“‘The union rep has demanded an investigation of my beliefs and my membership of the church, and whether it had any negative impact on my job as a teacher.
“‘That investigation process is currently underway, and at the time of writing I do not yet know the outcome.’”
