Are we allowed to be disgusted by homosexuality?
Thoughts on Kristie Higgs' pyrrhic free speech victory
This is a preview of an article I have had published over at The Critic today (link to the full piece at the end). On Tuesday, after cross-posting my Spectator article, I did promise a full, regular New Albion piece this week. However, I was then asked to write this piece up and so will bring you fresh New Albion content next week. Thank you for your ongoing support of my work!
British free speech advocates feel they have something to shout about this week: Kristie Higgs, a Christian school worker, won her Court of Appeal battle against her former employer. Higgs was sacked for gross misconduct from her pastoral and administrative role after two 2018 Facebook posts. These were largely her reposting content which expressed traditional Christian views on sexuality in criticism of the pro-LGBT sex education at her son’s school.
Higgs’ employer argued that her posts were liable to damage their reputation. Judges disagreed, since Higgs “had not said anything of the kind at work or displayed any discriminatory attitudes in her treatment of pupils.” Her beliefs in the sex binary and heterosexual marriage were found to be protected under the Equality Act.
So far, so good. But examination of the small print suggests a pyrrhic free speech victory, especially for Christians