Counsellor sacked for supposed discrimination

Thursday, 4th December 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

A Christian counsellor from Bristol is taking the organisation Relate to court after he was sacked for allegedly refusing to work with gay and lesbian couples.

Gary McFarlane, 47, started training with the counselling charity in May 2003 but was suspended in 2007 after expressing his religious views on same-sex marriage in a meeting with his manager.

He maintains that he has always enjoyed good relationships with both clients and colleagues and was merely being honest when asked about how he felt about homosexual couples. In suspending him, he says, Relate has refused to accommodate his religious beliefs and as a result he will now take the organisation to an employment tribunal where he will claim discrimination on the grounds of religion, unfair dismissal and harassment. "I love the community of Bristol," he said. "I live in a great city, with a history.

There is no room for oppression of any people and a return to the past.” Relate works with some 150,000 clients a year including gay, straight, bi, and transsexual couples and Mr McFarlane as never acted in a discriminatory manner towards any client yet he claims he has been labelled a "homophobe" even after his suspension was lifted.

Director of Christian Concern for our Nation, Andrea Minichiello Williams supported his action saying that "Mr McFarlane had an unblemished record of service for Relate and was trying to work out a way in which his Christian views could be accommodated."

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