A gay teacher was sacked by a Baptist school after a Facebook photo revealed his sexuality to students.
Craig Campbell was summarily removed from the relief teacher roster of South Coast Baptist College in Wakiki, south of Perth, last month.
After growing tired of hiding his sexuality, he told school bosses he was gay and in a relationship with a man when the photo drew attention from students.
Craig Campbell was sacked as a relief teacher by South Coast Baptist College in Perth after he revealed to school bosses he was gay
‘We went to my aunt’s wedding, and there were three kids from my school in the back of the room. It got to this point where I was like, ‘I can’t hide this anymore’,’ he told LGBTI website OutInPerth.
‘I told them I was in a relationship, and obviously this is something that I believe is fine from both a moral and a theological standpoint.’
Mandurah Baptist College, where he taught full-time for three years before switching to relief teaching, accepted his sexuality and let him keep teaching.
However, South Coast Baptist – where Mr Campbell attended both primary and secondary school – didn’t give him a straight answer for several weeks.
Mr Campbell (pictured with staff at Mandurah Baptist College, where he also teaches) revealed he was in a relationship with a man when a Facebook photo drew attention from students
Principal Des Mitchell told Mr Campbell (pictured) the school’s beliefs only accepted relationships between men and women
Finally he learned from other teachers he’d been removed from the school’s list of approved relief teachers, in what he was later told was a communication breakdown.
Principal Des Mitchell said the school was on a ‘respectful journey of understanding’ but the school’s beliefs only accepted relationships between men and women.
‘Young people are naturally inquisitive. The image he posted created interest in his personal life, including his sexuality,’ he told the West Australian.
‘I shared with him that, at present, there is an inconsistency with his beliefs on sexuality and the college’s beliefs.’
Mr Campbell’s sacking renewed debate about religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws being debated after the gay marriage postal vote.
Labor MP Lisa Baker said religious exemptions should be reexamined after 61.6 per cent of Australians voted yes.
‘The fact that those clauses are a bit dated and there may be different views from the community now is really just what I think,’ she said.
Conservative MPs are pushing to give those with religious objections the right to not hire LGBTI people or refuse to cater good or services to a gay wedding.