What is a matter of opinion and what is a conflict of interest/human rights issue?
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A 38-year-old Christian postgraduate student in the U.K. has been expelled after he made a Facebook post supporting Kim Davis and protesting same-sex marriage.
Felix Ngole is a former Cameroon resident who received asylum from the U.K., received two degrees, and became a teacher. In the post, he quoted a bible verse from Leviticus in support of his antigay beliefs as a part of a discussion thread.
After another Sheffield University student complained about his post, he was called to a disciplinary hearing. As The Telegraph reports, this is where things get…complicated:
He said he was initially not even told what he was accused of doing. He was eventually told that it involved breaching social work guidelines on “personal conduct” and “bringing the profession into disrepute.”
At a further hearing, a university “fitness to practise” panel concluded that he was entitled to his opinion on the issue of gay marriage but that there was a danger he “may have caused offence to some individuals” by voicing it.
As a result of the hearing, the panel had doubts about Ngole’s ability to be effective as a social worker, and he was expelled.
Ngole claims that he was the one discriminated against:
“The way I was treated made me feel that their duty of care to me immediately ended from the day they received that complaint.
I am not against people who are in same-sex relationships, that is their choice, but I am a Christian and if asked for my views I should be free to express that. I didn’t intimidate anyone and I didn’t treat them in a discriminatory manner.
I don’t see how you can end somebody’s professional career based on something that is untested and unproven.”
Ngole has appealed the decision and may launch a larger legal fight if he isn’t reinstated.
We’re (duh) all about equal rights for the LGBT community, but there’s something icky about derailing someone’s career based on a Facebook post. It’s a little too 1984 for our tastes.
What do you think? Is it right to punish a homophobe or did situation go a bit too far? We’re dying to know what you think.
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Originally published on Queerty.
Photo: Getty Images
“ Ngole has appealed the decision and may launch a larger legal fight if he isn’t reinstated. We’re (duh) all about equal rights for the LGBT community, but there’s something icky about derailing someone’s career based on a Facebook post. It’s a little too 1984 for our tastes. What do you think? Is it right to punish a homophobe or did situation go a bit too far? We’re dying to know what you think.” ______ Those who claim to be the most open minded, most liberal, most progressive, are often the most censoring and tyrannical. Fascists believed themselves to be… Read more »
His Christian privilege should take care of it. /s
Dr. Blumenfeld would probably agree! 😉
The world is a changing place, especially when it comes to morals, politically correct and the fabric of society. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a definite trend to destroy or at least breakdown that which is right and this is leaving many feeling confused, out of balance so to speak, and also for some a loss off direction. Its easier to let things go, as in this case remove the one that has conviction rather than uphold the freedom of speech they have. Unfortunately we tend to become obsessed by these smaller issues……………..whereas perhaps we… Read more »
The more you make right wrong, the more wrong becomes right
Was this his first offense? Was he given an opportunity to correct or clarify his statement? Was he given a chance to apologize and promise not to re-offend? If this answer to any of these is “no,” then the school went too far.
Freedom of speech does not exist if people are going to be punished (and severely punished) for expressing unpopular opinions. Freedom of religion does not exist you can’t say what your religious beliefs are without fear of punishment.
I work for a very liberal company but I am very much a conservative. I have stickers plastered in the tail gate of my truck that pretty much sums up how I feel. Only once did the administrator offhandedly say something. I believe the look in my face pretty much summed up where I was going with this in the event he went any further. I respect everyone I work with and I don’t push my faith or beliefs on them. What I say on facebook is MY PERSONA life. As long as I’m not denying anyone their rights, then… Read more »
Freedom of speech is not the same as freedom from consequences.
If an organisation has a zero-tolerance policy for homophobia, then they are within their rights to expel/fire someone for violating that policy. I’m sure he can find education/employment with a christian organisation if he feels the need to make ignorant statements publicly. Nothing posted on the internet is private, facebook included.
Donna, 30 people work for me at the moment; either directly reporting or working for one of my direct reports. In my reporting pyramid I have a broad swath of humanity including men who are openly gay, women who are ardent feminists, and people of multiple combinations of gender, ethnicity and religion. Given my personal stance as a practicing Roman Catholic with a fiscal conservative streak should I fire the ones who disagree with me? I could easily construe some of the rhetoric the more progressive or conservative ones post on Facebook as divisive and bigoted. That white male college… Read more »
Two thumbs up to you See Dubya