A devoutly Christian social worker denied a job because of his views on homosexuality has warned if he loses a legal challenge it will provide a “green light” to discriminate against religious employees (BBC, GB News, Mail, Telegraph).
Felix Ngole this week launched proceedings against Leeds based Touchstone Support, after claiming he was denied his dream job as a mental health support worker when they discovered his strongly held Christian beliefs.
Mr Ngole was initially offered the £25,000-a-year role in 2022 after performing well at interview, but is claiming the offer was rescinded weeks later when bosses at the organisation discovered he had previously been involved in a landmark legal case over his right to free speech.
In 2015 Mr Ngole, who had claimed asylum in Britain from Cameroon, was thrown off his social work course at Sheffield University after posting on social media about his views on homosexuality.
But in 2019 he won a legal challenge and was allowed to complete his training after the Court of Appeal ruled his personal views did not mean he would discriminate against someone.
Mr Ngole claims that when Touchstone became aware of his involvement in the case he was called to a second interview where he was interrogated about his religious beliefs.
He was allegedly told by Touchstone bosses that unless he could demonstrate how he would “embrace and promote homosexual rights”, the job offer would be withdrawn. He was also allegedly told his beliefs did not “align” with Touchstone’s ethos as an “inclusive employer” and that he posed a risk to the organisation’s reputation.
Despite Mr Ngole seeking to assure Touchstone that he had never been accused of forcing his beliefs on anyone or discriminating against anybody, the job offer was eventually withdrawn.
As part of the legal case, lawyers for Touchstone are expected to argue that minority groups suffer stress stemming from experiences of stigma and discrimination.
They are expected to suggest that if one of their service users discovered Mr Ngole’s Christian beliefs on homosexuality it would cause them distress, and therefore he could not be employed.
In response, Mr Ngole’s team will warn that if the courts accept this reasoning, it will send an alarming green light to other employers that they can discriminate against Bible-believing Christians in any situation where they might interact with people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Mr Ngole, whose legal challenge is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, is now bringing claims of direct discrimination, harassment, and breaches of the Equality Act 2010.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “Telling an employee that they must ‘embrace and promote’ the LGBT lifestyle as a condition of employment sets a dark and troubling precedent.
“If left unchallenged it would see Christians who manifest their beliefs barred from working in the NHS and other institutions,” Ms Williams added.
The hearing continues.
