Facebook "gay wedding comment man" wins demotion case - Polidicks

Via [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-20357131"]BBC[/URL] [quote]A Christian who was demoted in his job for a comment he wrote on Facebook about gay marriages has won a breach of contract action against his employers. Adrian Smith, 55, lost his managerial position and had a 40% salary cut after saying a gay wedding held in a church was an "equality too far". Mr Smith, from Bolton, claimed that Trafford Housing Trust (THT) acted unlawfully in demoting him. He also alleged that the trust had breached his human rights. Disciplinary action was launched against Mr Smith after he posted the comment next to a BBC News Online story, written in February 2011, with the headline, "Gay church 'marriage' set to get the go-ahead". [B]'Polite remarks'[/B] In a statement after the hearing at London's High Court he said: "Something has poisoned the atmosphere in Britain, where an honest man like me can be punished for making perfectly polite remarks about the importance of marriage. "I have won today. But what will tomorrow bring? "I am fearful that, if marriage is redefined, there will be more cases like mine - and if the law of marriage changes people like me may not win in court." He added: "Does the Prime Minister want to create a society where people like me, people who believe in traditional marriage, are treated as outcasts?" Mr Smith's damages payout was limited to £100 because of legal technicalities. He said: "I didn't do this for the money - I did this because there is an important principle at stake." [B]'Excessive'[/B] The father-of-two's Facebook comments were not visible to the general public, and were posted outside work time, but the trust argued he broke its code of conduct by expressing religious or political views which might upset co-workers. High Court judge Mr Justice Briggs said: "Mr Smith was taken to task for doing nothing wrong, suspended and subjected to a disciplinary procedure which wrongly found him guilty of gross misconduct, and then demoted to a non-managerial post with an eventual 40% reduction in salary. "The breach of contract which the Trust thereby committed was serious and repudiatory." Matthew Gardiner, chief executive of Trafford Housing Trust, said it accepted the court's verdict and the trust had been defending its social media policy. Shortly after Mr Smith's demotion Peter Tatchell, a prominentcampaigner on gay and lesbian issues, described the council's actions as "excessive".[/quote] YOU LET THE GAYS MARRY, AND THEN YOU HAVE SHARIA LAW. DO YOU WANT THAT, BRITAIN?

Good. I think this whole ideal of firing people due to comments on facebook is silly anyway.

As much as this guy is a cock, he can say what he wants. It's called freedom of speech [editline]16th November 2012[/editline] Just like I can call this guy a cock

[quote]"I am fearful that, if marriage is redefined, there will be more cases like mine - and if the law of marriage changes people like me may not win in court."[/quote] but this isn't about marriage, it's about you offending people

Gay myself and believe the right decision was made. Regardless of whether people agree with what he said or if it is offensive we do after all live in Britain, a country of free speech and he should be allowed to say what he wants no matter how ridiculous it is. Losing your job for having an opinion is an absolute disgrace. On the idea of gay marriage itself I believe that it should be the choice of each individual church, if the catholic church think gay marriage is not right that's fine even though I disagree and they shouldn't be forced to marry a gay couple, however a Quaker church should be allowed to marry a gay couple because they believe that is right. If this was the law everybody would be happy. The couple are happily married in a church and the catholic church aren't forced to do something they don't want to. Also a gay couple getting married at a registry office should blatantly be allowed.

[QUOTE=download;38473425]As much as this guy is a cock, [B]he can say what he wants[/B]. It's called [B]freedom of speech[/B][/QUOTE] Niggers aren't really people; their purpose in life should be to serve white people. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Racism" - MaxOfS2D))[/highlight]

I feel good about this, as a guy with a boyfriend, marriage never interested me anyway so i don't know how anyone would give a fuck. Not implying that my opinion is everyone's, but its just a piece of paper at the end of the day.

[QUOTE=Patriarch;38473491]Niggers aren't really people; their purpose in life should be to serve white people.[/QUOTE] That's a cool opinion, bro. Got any arguments to back that claim up? [sp]See, free speech is a great thing because I might be able to talk you out of your (in this case fictional) bigotry.[/sp]

[QUOTE=deltasquid;38473519]That's a cool opinion, bro. Got any arguments to back that claim up? [sp]See, free speech is a great thing because I might be able to talk you out of your (in this case fictional) bigotry.[/sp][/QUOTE] White people originally enslaved black people, ergo we are the superior race; it's survival of the fittest. [sp]I was originally making a point against download[/sp]

[QUOTE=Patriarch;38473491]Niggers aren't really people; their purpose in life should be to serve white people.[/QUOTE] You have the right to say that, and we have the right to call you a tool for making such a grossly overstated counterargument.

[QUOTE=Patriarch;38473491]Niggers aren't really people; their purpose in life should be to serve white people. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Racism" - MaxOfS2D))[/highlight][/QUOTE] Holy fuck Max lol, the irony is physically hurting me

If God gave a fuck about gays marrying in churches, he would smite them down.

[QUOTE=Patriarch;38473491]Niggers aren't really people; their purpose in life should be to serve white people. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Racism" - MaxOfS2D))[/highlight][/QUOTE]Freedom of speech on the Internet is limited by the rules and terms of use of the site you post comments on. Someone in a real life job, however, has legal protection from being fired for using their freedom of speech outside the job.

Mr Smith's damages payout was limited to £100 owned

While I agree firing him over something he posted on facebook is retarded, [quote]Adrian Smith, 55, lost his managerial position and had a 40% salary cut after saying a gay wedding held in a church was an "equality too far".[/quote] The fact he's this much of a fucking bigot makes my blood boil.

[QUOTE=BuffaloBill;38473960]While I agree firing him over something he posted on facebook is retarded, The fact he's this much of a fucking bigot makes my blood boil.[/QUOTE] well there's such things as too many equal rights isn't there

It must suck to be forever known as the "gay wedding comment man"

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;38473725]Freedom of speech on the Internet is limited by the rules and terms of use of the site you post comments on. Someone in a real life job, however, has legal protection from being fired for using their freedom of speech outside the job.[/QUOTE] I didn't realize that was the case in socialist England. Here in Murika, you can get fired for any reason, or no reason at all. And that's the way we like it; keeps people on their toes. God Bless Murika :eagle:

He's also right though, how can you expect gay marriage in a church to be acceptable to the religious world. Secular gay marriage arrangements, sure, but in a church or religious setting? That's a joke; in most large religions homosexuality isn't acceptable.

Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.

[QUOTE=amcfaggot;38474476]He's also right though, how can you expect gay marriage in a church to be acceptable to the religious world. Secular gay marriage arrangements, sure, but in a church or religious setting? That's a joke; in most large religions homosexuality isn't acceptable.[/QUOTE]If the pastor is willing to do gay marriages, and their organisation doesn't try to stop it, why should they be disallowed from doing it? [editline]16th November 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Ereunity;38474630]Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE]Separate but equal has never worked fyi.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38474630]Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE] Nah, that isnt the thing gays want. They want equal rights, not a "Secondary thing, just for them", they want equality. Equality is allowing them to marry just as a straight couple would.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38474630]Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE] Separate but equal is a no-go. Besides, marriage doesn't even have to be in church. (At least in Europe. Is there marriage outside of church in the USA? Because if not, that'd be really fucking retarded) But in Europe, even if a religion doesn't want to let gays marry in Church, they can marry at the Town Hall. anyone can. And they will have the very same rights as people who married in Church. (That's secularization) I don't see why religion still plays such a role in US politics.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38474630]Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE] we have that already, they're called civil partnerships (which incidentally, heterosexual couples can't get. it's one of the few cases where the term "heterophobia" is valid)

[QUOTE=amcfaggot;38474476]He's also right though, how can you expect gay marriage in a church to be acceptable to the religious world. Secular gay marriage arrangements, sure, but in a church or religious setting? That's a joke; in most large religions homosexuality isn't acceptable.[/QUOTE] I think churches can already turn couples down for religious reasons, you'd just have to find someone who wants to do it. Or get married at the registry and just have a party afterwards anyway.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;38474695]we have that already, they're called civil partnerships (which incidentally, heterosexual couples can't get. it's one of the few cases where the term "heterophobia" is valid)[/QUOTE] I always thought that under a civil partnership you weren't treated the same as a husband/wife in many legal aspects. If that's wrong somebody please tell me.

He never said he was against gay marriage as a whole, but against gay marriage in a church, which I have no problem with.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38474630]Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE] That's already the case here, except now they're changing it. [editline]16th November 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;38474695]we have that already, they're called civil partnerships (which incidentally, heterosexual couples can't get. it's one of the few cases where the term "heterophobia" is valid)[/QUOTE] It's not really heterophobia though.

I don't even see what's wrong with his comment,as gays probably wouldn't marry in a church because they are mostly atheist,and the fact that it would be somewhat inappropriate,seeing that most religions say being gay is bad and stuff.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38474630]Well don't let gay's marry. Just draft something new that gives them all the same rights as marriage but isn't called marriage and isn't done in a church. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE] there are churches that are perfectly fine with homosexuality [editline]16th November 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=IPK;38475120]I don't even see what's wrong with his comment,as gays probably wouldn't marry in a church because they are mostly atheist,and the fact that it would be somewhat inappropriate,seeing that most religions say being gay is bad and stuff.[/QUOTE] It's about equality, not ability or want.