Facebook and the First Amendment have been at the center of a debate over the anti-homosexual comments of teachers in Florida and New Jersey. Now, a housing association manager in England is meeting with ill treatment over some same-sex comments of his own.
Adrian Smith, 54, was demoted and took a large pay decrease after he noted on his personal Facebook page that celebrating same-sex weddings in churches would be “an equality too far.” The comment, only available to his friends, was posted with a news story about gay marriage.
He added: “If the state wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the state; but the state shouldn’t impose its rules on places of faith and conscience.”
Trafford Housing Trust in Grater Manchester says the comments are against their equal opportunities policy. Smith is now taking legal action against the company, asking for compensation and an admission that they violated his rights to free speech and his freedom of religion.
Smith’s salary was reduced by approximately $22,000 and he was given a final written warning stating that any further offenses would result in his firing. The company also told Smith he had been spared his job only because of his long 18 years of service.
Mike Judge, of the Christian Institute think-tank, said Smith now faces homelessness.
“His pay is being reduced in increments, so he is not in immediate trouble,” MailOnline reported Judge saying. “However, as it goes down, in two or three months he is going to have trouble paying his mortgage. His only hope is that his employers see sense and reverse their decision.”
Source: Charisma News | Gina Meeks
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