A London teacher who claimed that being LGBT+ is a “sin” and called transgender people “confused” is learning the hard way that hate speech in classrooms comes with consequences. Glawdys Leger, 44, just lost a High Court battle after being found guilty of unprofessional conduct for the remarks she made to a class of 11-year-olds.
Leger, who taught religious studies at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, unleashed her anti-LGBT+ sermon back in February 2022, telling year seven pupils during a presentation that being queer was “not fine” and advising students to put “God before LGBTQ ideology.” One student, sensing something was off, recorded the comments and told her mother, who then filed a formal complaint.
‘Justifiable and Proportionate’
After her suspension and eventual dismissal, a professional conduct panel (PCP) ruled in December 2023 that Leger’s actions were unprofessional. Although she wasn’t banned from teaching entirely, the PCP’s decision was published on the Teaching Regulation Agency’s website—a move Leger tried to fight in court.
In her legal challenge, Leger argued that the ruling infringed on her privacy and would damage her job prospects. But Mrs Justice Lang wasn’t having it. The judge called the decision “lawful,” stating that publication of the findings was a “justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct.”
The court acknowledged that Leger didn’t intentionally cause distress, but said her words still “undermined the school community’s aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity.” Translation: ignorance may not be hateful, but it’s still harmful.
Impact on the LGBTQ+ Community
This case sends a loud and clear message to schools and educators: students deserve inclusive classrooms free from outdated moralizing. Queer kids, especially those questioning their identity, face enough stress without being told by authority figures that they’re sinners or “confused.” That kind of messaging breeds shame, isolation, and fear—and has no place in modern education.
Leger’s attempt to frame her comments as part of a religious perspective fell flat in a society where teaching respect for diversity isn’t optional. Religious belief does not give anyone a free pass to promote intolerance in public institutions, especially not in front of impressionable children.
For the LGBTQ+ community, this ruling is a small but meaningful victory—a reaffirmation that schools must be safe spaces where queer youth are supported, not judged. In a world increasingly hostile to queer rights, even small court wins help keep that rainbow flag flying.