Teacher sacked after sharing marriage beliefs during staff training

A teacher has been dismissed from The Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales School, in Cardiff, after sharing his beliefs on marriage at a staff training seminar.

During a question and answer session, Ben Dybowski asked if his beliefs – that marriage is between a man and a woman and that life begins at conception – were considered discriminatory.

Despite being told that it was a “safe space and encouraged to speak freely”, he was sacked the following day.

‘Attack on Christianity’

Mr Dybowski called his dismissal an attack on Christianity and “an affront to freedom of speech and freedom of thought”.

He said he never discussed his views with pupils and was always respectful of those with different opinions.

His case has been referred to the Education Workforce Council, which regulates teachers in Wales, but he fears that it may end his teaching career.

Activist training

The event was organised by Diverse Cymru, which promotes “workforce diversity practice”, “unconscious bias” and “trans, gender identity and gender expression awareness” to teachers.

The seminar was run by its Policy Manager Ele Hicks, who describes herself as a ‘bisexual activist and change champion’.

Hicks is also involved with the controversial charity Stonewall.

More than 80 staff attended the event, but no pupils were present.

‘Outrageous treatment’

Toby Young, Director of the Free Speech Union, said: “The way Ben has been treated is outrageous.”

He added: “Discrimination based on religion or belief breaches the Equality Act.”