The transgender ‘faith’ beats Christianity and common sense
by Will Jones, Faith and Politics:
The days when transsexualism was uncommon, a little obscure and barely affected us are long gone. Today society is being officially reshaped in the trans image.
Yesterday an employment tribunal declared that ‘lack of belief in transgenderism and conscientious objection to transgenderism in our judgment are incompatible with human dignity and conflict with the fundamental rights of others, specifically here, transgender individuals.’
Before we ask when and how transgenderism acquired the status of a faith, let’s look back at the case in question. It centres on an experienced Christian doctor who was forced out of his job working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after refusing to commit to using transgender pronouns and who has now lost his employment tribunal case.
Dr David Mackereth’s story is one which we followed on TCW from the start. We commented on his disgraceful treatment at the hands of the media here and here.
Dr Mackereth had his government contract terminated following a conversation with his line manager in which he said he would not (in principle – and note the use of the subjunctive – this was a hypothetical discussion) refer to a 6ft bearded man as ‘she’ or ‘Madam’ if requested.
In this latest episode, the tribunal has ruled that his dismissal was lawful because his refusal to comply would have made him guilty of unlawful discrimination or harassment under the Equality Act.
In response to his claim that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) breached his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the tribunal found that citing freedom of religion was no defence when it interferes with the rights of transsexuals, since ‘the right to manifest a religion or belief is subject to article 9(2) [of the European Convention on Human Rights] which includes “the protection of the rights and freedoms of others”.’
Belief in transgenderism according to this same judgement, however, is the one belief we now all have to share.
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