Christian loses tribunal over gay adoption views

Ex-magistrate and NHS director to appeal against decision

A Christian magistrate who tried to sue the NHS after he was sacked for speaking out against gay adoption has lost his case.

Non-executive director Richard Page was suspended by the NHS Trust Development Authority after he claimed it was better for a child to be brought up by both a man and a woman.

He made the comments in his role as a magistrate for Maidstone and Sevenoaks when considering an application by a same-sex couple to adopt a child.

The 71-year-old, from Headcorn, was dismissed from his position as JP on the Central Kent Bench where he had served for 15 years.

A media storm followed and Mr Page went on a campaign to defend his views.

A few days later the NHS authority suspended him from his role as a non-executive director at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

The trust said he had undermined the confidence of staff, particularly LGBT employees.

He launched a case against the NHS authority for discrimination, harassment and victimisation for his Christian beliefs under the Equality Act 2010.

Mr Page claimed he was being “ousted from public service” for being a Christian.

But an employment tribunal rejected his bid to be reinstated.

The panel said he was not dismissed for holding or expressing his views, but because he had appeared in the media without telling the trust.

Mr Page, who previously worked as an NHS finance director, told Croydon Employment Tribunal he was not anti-gay but: “It is a sin to have sex outside of marriage, which necessarily includes all homosexual practices.”

In a witness statement Mr Page said: ‘’I strongly believe that it is best for any child to be raised in a traditional family with a mother and a father.

‘’The child needs the complementary roles offered by both parents, male and female, psychological as well as physical.”

During the hearing, Mr Page accepted that he had been asked by the trust not to publicise his controversial views in the media.

But he denied he had said anything offensive and added: “Well if I am upsetting to them, they are upsetting to me.” Mr Page, pictured above, intends to appeal the decision.

He said: “This case is much bigger than me now.

“It is about how ordinary folk are becoming increasingly fearful to speak out against the homosexual agenda.

“They bully, intimidate and force you out of your job. It is time for this to stop.”

Andrea Williams, of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre which supported Mr Page, said: “It seems that the NHS bosses and liberal judges cannot tolerate the expression of Christian views on morality – particularly on sexual morality.

“He was not targeted for the expression of beliefs, but rather for the expression of certain beliefs – namely, belief in the traditional family.

“This makes a mockery of freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and the rule of law.”