Sydney university lecturer cancels class in church for LGBTQI

A university lecturer has cancelled a class due to be held in a church for fear it would offend his LGBTQI students.

University of Technology Sydney communications lecturer Dr Timothy Laurie emailed his students two days before lectures were due to begin saying class was cancelled due to ‘the suitability of a church as a venue’.

St Barnabas Anglican Church in Ultimo, inner-city Sydney, was a temporary venue the university turned to during planned construction.

‘We welcome religious pluralism at UTS, [but with] the heated political climate… around the marriage equality postal survey and the Safe Schools Coalition has meant that we need to redouble our support of the LGBTQI community at UTS and Beyond,’ Dr Laurie said.

University of Technology Sydney (pictured) lecturer Dr Timothy Laurie emailed his students two days before lectures were due to begin saying class was cancelled due to ‘the suitability of a church as a venue’ 

 One of Dr Laurie’s (right) students at University of Technology (left) questioned his decision and slammed it as ‘political posturing’

‘[We must] recognise instances where this may come into conflict with specific religious institutions.’ 

One of Dr Laurie’s students questioned his decision and slammed it as ‘political posturing’.

‘I am happy to learn in a church, a mosque, a temple, a lecture hall, a museum and have the utmost gratitude for any institution willing to offer me such services,’ they told The Daily Telegraph.

Dr Laurie said a make-up class was scheduled in a different building and the students did not miss any teachings.  

St Barnabas Anglican Church (pictured) in Ultimo, inner-city Sydney, was a temporary venue the university turned to during planned construction