Peter Tatchell: Demotion for gay marriage comment 'excessive'

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A leading gay rights campaigner has backed a Christian housing worker demoted for posting comments on Facebook about gay marriage.

Adrian Smith, 54, from Bolton, is taking legal action against Trafford Housing Trust (THT) after being removed from his managerial post. Political campaigner Peter Tatchell described THT’s response as “excessive and disproportionate”. The Trust declined to comment but said it would defend its decision.

Disciplinary action was launched against Mr Smith when he commented “an equality too far” next to a BBC News Online story with the headline, “Gay church ‘marriage’ set to get the go-ahead”. He added: “If the state wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the state; but the state shouldn’t impose its rules on places of faith and conscience.”

Human rights organisation the Peter Tatchell Foundation issued a statement saying it was “not a particularly homophobic viewpoint”. Mr Tatchell, a prominent campaigner on gay and lesbian issues, said: "Adrian Smith’s opposition to churches being compelled to hold gay marriages is shared by much of the population, including many equality and human rights organisations. "In a democratic society, he has a right to express his point of view, even if it is misguided and wrong.

“Freedom of speech should only be limited or penalised in extreme circumstances, such as when a person incites violence against others. Mr Smith’s words did not cross this threshold.” Instead of taking disciplinary action, the Trust should have simply warned Mr Smith about making remarks in forums where he is identified as their employee, added Mr Tatchell. “I urge Trafford Housing Trust to revoke his demotion and salary cut,” he said.

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15462471
 
At least that foundation realizes the irony to claim to be fighting for what they believe is a right while simultaneously trying to crush widely recognized constitutional rights of others…
 
cemiller said:
At least that foundation realizes the irony to claim to be fighting for what they believe is a right while simultaneously trying to crush widely recognized constitutional rights of others…
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What constitution would that be?
 
Kaninchen said:
What constitution would that be?
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lol, I retract my statement. How in the world I didn’t realize they weren’t talking about America is beyond me… It’s from BBC and even has Manchester in BIG letter right across the top… Must have still been half asleep when I read it, sorry :o
 
LemonAndLime said:
A leading gay rights campaigner has backed a Christian housing worker demoted for posting comments on Facebook about gay marriage.

Adrian Smith, 54, from Bolton, is taking legal action against Trafford Housing Trust (THT) after being removed from his managerial post. Political campaigner Peter Tatchell described THT’s response as “excessive and disproportionate”. The Trust declined to comment but said it would defend its decision.

Disciplinary action was launched against Mr Smith when he commented “an equality too far” next to a BBC News Online story with the headline, “Gay church ‘marriage’ set to get the go-ahead”. He added: “If the state wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the state; but the state shouldn’t impose its rules on places of faith and conscience.”

Human rights organisation the Peter Tatchell Foundation issued a statement saying it was “not a particularly homophobic viewpoint”. Mr Tatchell, a prominent campaigner on gay and lesbian issues, said: "Adrian Smith’s opposition to churches being compelled to hold gay marriages is shared by much of the population, including many equality and human rights organisations. "In a democratic society, he has a right to express his point of view, even if it is misguided and wrong.

“Freedom of speech should only be limited or penalised in extreme circumstances, such as when a person incites violence against others. Mr Smith’s words did not cross this threshold.” Instead of taking disciplinary action, the Trust should have simply warned Mr Smith about making remarks in forums where he is identified as their employee, added Mr Tatchell. “I urge Trafford Housing Trust to revoke his demotion and salary cut,” he said.

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15462471
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Good for Tatchell.
Fairness is fairness.
And truth is truth.

Glad somebody recognizes that in England.

Good show.
 
Actually, the British do have a constitution, but it varies in form from ours. Theirs consists primarily of English Common Law; the Coronation Oath; the Magna Carta; the Statute of Westminster; the Petition of Right, Declaration of Right and Bill of Rights; the Act of Settlement of 1701; the Act of Union; and various unwritten traditions.

Just throwing that in. 🙂
 
Wolseley said:
Actually, the British do have a constitution, but it varies in form from ours. Theirs consists primarily of English Common Law; the Coronation Oath; the Magna Carta; the Statute of Westminster; the Petition of Right, Declaration of Right and Bill of Rights; the Act of Settlement of 1701; the Act of Union; and various unwritten traditions.

Just throwing that in. 🙂
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Far more Statutes than that (including those consequent upon membership of the EU), constitutional conventions and, of course, you have to include the European Declaration on Human Rights.

My point remains, ‘what constitution?’ because there is no ‘Day 1’ British Constitution similar to those of most other countries so ‘constitutional rights’ are not so easy to look up.
 
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