Christian sacked for anti-gay views wins discrimination case

A Christian nursery worker who was sacked after telling a lesbian colleague her sexuality was a sin has won a discrimination tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Sarah Mbuyi was dismissed from the Newpark Childcare nursery in Shepherd’s Bush for gross misconduct in 2013 after telling her colleague that “God is not OK with what you do.”

The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which supported Ms Mbuyi during the case, claimed the sacking breached European law on religious freedom.

An employment tribunal ruled at the end of last week that Ms Mbuyi had been discriminated against on the grounds of her religious beliefs, The Guardian reports.

The judge ruled that while the nursery was “not anti-Christian”, Ms Mbuyi had not been treated fairly and that the decision to sack her may have been made on “stereotypical assumptions about her and her beliefs”.

Ms Mbuyi praised the decision, saying: “I only ever responded to questions that my colleague asked me and wanted the very best for her. I give glory to God for the decision and say ‘well done’ to the Christian Legal Centre.

“I hope that my previous employer and colleagues are well and will understand from this that my intention was for their best.”

Speaking to the BBC, she added: “I think when someone approaches you and asks you a question, that’s not harassment. Besides, I never displayed any sort of ‘anti-gay’ behaviour towards her.”

Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and chief executive of the CLC, said: “This is a brave judgment and comes as a great relief to Miss Mbuyi and to all of us at the Christian Legal Centre.

“This judgment is a ‘common sense’ judgment which shows understanding of the Christian faith and Miss Mbuyi’s freedom to live and speak it out in the work place.

“We have been in the employment courts for over a decade now and at last we have a sensible decision.”

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