A Christian policeman is taking his own force to an employment tribunal over claims that it "harassed" him because of his religious opposition to homosexuality.So, the floodgates opened by Lillian Ladele are now well and truly open…
But this made me pause:
Graham Cogman, a constable with 15 years experience, is taking action against Norfolk Police as he claims he was victimised for refusing to wear a pink ribbon on his uniform to mark a "gay pride" event, and for questioning the force's stance towards gay men and lesbians.Surely the whole point of these ribbons is that they are voluntarily worn to show support for the event in question, be it gay rights, breast cancer, heart disease or three legged donkeys?
Well, it seems they can’t and they didn’t:
His complaint stems from a circular email sent to officers in early 2005encouraging staff to wear a pink ribbon on their uniforms during Gay History Month.So, PC Cogman isn’t being ‘harassed for his religious beliefs’ at all – he’s being (rightly) disciplined for sending chain emails…
After receiving the email, PC Cogman sent a reply to his fellow officers featuring biblical quotations about homosexuality being a sin.
He objected again the following year when a similar email was again sent to officers. He was subjected to a disciplinary tribunal and fined 13 days' pay.
4 comments:
What a pointless situation. No-one should be forced to wear a pink ribbon, it's a choice for each individual as to whether or not they show their support.
Cogman is certainly no more guilty of anything than, say, someone who spams police inboxes with e-mails touting "gay history month", or whatever progressive claptrap is being pushed.
I wonder what would happen if it was a muslim officer that replied to the e-mails.
"No-one should be forced to wear a pink ribbon, it's a choice for each individual as to whether or not they show their support."
Exactly. And he wasn't forced. He could simply have ignored the hectoring email, as I suspect most would have.
"Cogman is certainly no more guilty of anything than, say, someone who spams police inboxes with e-mails touting "gay history month", or whatever progressive claptrap is being pushed."
That's what the 'delete' button is for.. :)
"I wonder what would happen if it was a muslim officer that replied to the e-mails."
Oh, wait a few weeks. I'm sure they'll be the next 'victim group' to try it, should this go well for PC Cogman...
Most good email clients have rules and spam filters which can be very easily set to send this sort of crap straight to the dustbin. Ideally we shouldn't need to go through the pain but hey ho, just get on with life, its too short to get worried about things like this.
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