Glawdys Leger, a 43-year-old secondary school teacher, claims she was terminated from her position at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, south London, after 12 years of service. The reason behind her dismissal? Leger’s refusal to teach her Year 7 and 8 students about gender and sexual identities, citing that being LGBTQ+ was against her religious beliefs.
Leger regarded the lessons she was asked to teach as “extreme and politically partisan,” asserting that they were in conflict with her faith. These lessons, which were part of the religious education curriculum, introduced young students aged 11 to 13 to various sexual and gender identities, including pansexuality, asexuality, and intersexuality.
Leger believed that gender identity was not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, unlike age, disability, race, or religion. Consequently, she decided to offer her own perspective by teaching the Christian view of LGBTQ+ topics, as she felt the students were only exposed to a one-sided narrative.
In one reported incident, Leger expressed her disbelief in transgender ideology and conveyed the Christian belief that sex outside of marriage is considered a sin, advocating that one should “live your life for God.” However, she denies making certain other claims mentioned in a parental complaint, such as stating that “people will always be seen by God as having their birth gender” and that “LGBTQ+ is a sin.”
As a result of her anti-LGBTQ+ teachings, which reportedly upset some students, Leger faced disciplinary action and was ultimately terminated for gross misconduct. She received a letter from the Teaching Regulation Agency, alleging that her teaching conduct went against “fundamental British values in that it lacked tolerance for those with different beliefs.”
Leger’s hearing regarding her dismissal is set to commence shortly, where she maintains her stance, saying, “I have great compassion for LGBT people, especially for those suffering from gender dysphoria. I cannot, however, in good conscience teach or say things I believe are contrary to my faith.” The school’s spokesperson stressed the importance of promoting mutual respect and tolerance of diverse beliefs as part of a balanced curriculum but refrained from further comments due to the ongoing investigation and sensitivities involved.