U.K. Supreme Court Upholds Christian Mother’s Right to Express Biblical Beliefs in Landmark Ruling

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The U.K. Supreme Court has delivered a final and resounding victory to Christian mother Kristie Higgs, refusing to hear an appeal from a secondary school that dismissed her over social media posts expressing concerns about LGBTQ+ materials taught to children.

The ruling effectively ends a nearly seven-year legal battle, affirming that Christians and other people of faith can express deeply held beliefs without fear of professional retaliation. Higgs, 48, a former student counseling assistant at Farmor’s School in Gloucestershire, had been fired in January 2019 for posting on Facebook–under her maiden name–about gender identity content being introduced at her son’s Church of England primary school.

“I am relieved and grateful to the Supreme Court for this common-sense decision,” Higgs said. “Christians have the right to express their beliefs on social media and in other non-work-related settings without fear of being punished by their employer.”

Higgs’ case was backed by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which called the decision a “landmark victory for religious freedom and freedom of speech in the workplace.” The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the school’s appeal effectively upholds a February Court of Appeal judgment that overturned earlier rulings justifying Higgs’ dismissal.

“The Court of Appeal confirmed, loud and clear, that ideological censorship in the workplace, particularly against sincerely held Christian convictions, is illegal,” said Andrea Williams, CLC’s chief executive. “This is a decisive closure to an extraordinary case with far-reaching implications for all people of faith in the United Kingdom.”

In its February decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that Higgs’ dismissal constituted unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The court emphasized that expressing opposition to same-sex marriage and gender ideology based on biblical teaching is protected by law. It rejected the school’s argument that Higgs had been dismissed for her language rather than her beliefs, stating the response to her posts was “unquestionably disproportionate.”

The judges noted that her Facebook posts–made in a private capacity–contained no reference to the school and were unlikely to cause real reputational harm. “There was no evidence that the reputation of the school had been damaged. Its concern was about potential damage in the future,” the ruling stated.

The case also exposed potential bias in the initial tribunal proceedings. According to CLC, one of the panel members in the 2020 employment tribunal was LGBT advocate Debbie England, who had been affiliated with Stonewall and Common Purpose–groups that promote LGBTQI+ rights and policies. The CLC argues that had England’s affiliations been known at the time, a recusal would have been likely.

Higgs had posted two messages in October 2018 expressing concern about school materials such as Jacob’s New Dress and Red: A Crayon’s Story, which she believed introduced gender confusion. She shared a petition titled “Stop supporting LGBT indoctrination,” directed at then-Education Secretary Damian Hind.

Though the school claimed her posts could be seen as “homophobic,” the court disagreed. “Even if the language of the reposts passes the threshold of objectionability, it is not grossly offensive,” the judges said, noting that Higgs had never mistreated students and had an unblemished employment record.

“This is not just about me,” Higgs said. “Too many Christians have suffered discipline or marginalization at their work because of their faith. The Court of Appeal has now set a clear standard to protect people like me.”

Legal observers say the case sets a precedent that shifts the burden onto employers to justify dismissals of employees who express religious beliefs. The February ruling reaffirms that such actions must be “prescribed by law, proportionate, and necessary in a democratic society.”

“This authoritative judgment reshapes the law on freedom of religion in the workplace,” said the Christian Legal Centre, calling it the first time a U.K. employment court has presumed that dismissals for manifesting Christian faith are unlawful unless proven otherwise.

As public debate intensifies over the balance between equality and free expression, the final word from the Supreme Court is clear: biblical beliefs have a protected place in British society–and in the workplace.

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