A Christian school assistant has been dismissed after she shared two posts on Facebook challenging pro-LGBT education.
Kristie Higgs says she will contest the decision – with support from the Christian Legal Centre – and “stand for Christians and all parents across the country” who hold similar opinions.
Farmor’s School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, said Higgs’ comments on social media could damage its reputation and dismissed her for gross misconduct.
Disciplinary panel
In October 2018, Higgs shared two posts with her Facebook friends after hearing that the LGBT-promoting ‘No Outsiders’ programme was to be taught at her child’s primary school.
One of the posts focused on a Relationships and Sex Education petition while the second linked to an article on pro-LGBT children’s books.
According to the Daily Mail, one person complained to her secondary school employer, prompting a disciplinary panel to consider the case.
‘No direct evidence’
Farmor’s decided that she should be dismissed – despite having an exemplary record – on grounds including “illegal discrimination”.
It also reportedly accused her of “serious inappropriate use of social media”, and “online comments that could bring the school into disrepute and damage the reputation of the school”.
However, the school acknowledged that there was “no direct evidence” that its reputation had been damaged, but that the words “could be perceived as discrimination”.
Christian beliefs
Kristie Higgs, who had been working as a pastoral assistant, said: “I have been punished for sharing concerns about Relationships and Sex Education.
“I hold these views because of my Christian beliefs, beliefs and views which are shared by hundreds of thousands of parents across the UK.”
“I am determined to fight this case and to stand for Christians and all parents across the country who are being silenced for sharing and holding these views”, she added.
Courageous
The Christian Legal Centre, a sister organisation of Christian Concern, is supporting Kristie Higgs.
Its Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, said: “Kristie is a kind, loving and courageous woman, and we will stand side by side with her as she fights for justice.”
There has been widespread opposition to the promotion of LGBT issues in schools. In London, a school toned down its pro-LGBT event after parents expressed concerns.
And parents in Oxfordshire have joined together to challenge a ‘Trans Toolkit’ which claims that saying there are only two genders is ‘transphobic bullying’.