Keith Waters (pictured yesterday), who is a minister at an evangelical church, claims he was forced out of his job as a caretaker at a secular primary school after making the tweet in 2019
A Christian pastor has said a 'homophobic' tweet about gay pride being harmful was 'born out of love' as he sues his ex-employer for constructive dismissal.
Keith Waters, who is a minister at an evangelical church, claims he was forced out of his job as a caretaker at a secular primary school after making the tweet in 2019.
The 55-year-old said the tweet, which he later deleted, was an expression of a 'Christian viewpoint' on LGBTQ Pride events.
He wrote on Twitter on June 1, 2019: 'A reminder that Christians should not support or attend LGBTQ 'Pride Month' events held in June.
'They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Christian faith and morals. They are especially harmful to children.'
Social media users accused him of homophobia and parents wrote to his school in Ely, Cambridgeshire, to complain about his 'disgusting, hateful views'.
But Waters, who is married and has a daughter, told an employment tribunal yesterday his tweet was 'born out of love'.
He is suing Active Learning Trust, which runs Isle of Ely Primary School, for direct and indirect discrimination, and constructive dismissal.
On June 24, 2019, Waters handed in a notice to resign from the job he had held since January 2017 after school bosses threatened him with disciplinary action. Pictured: File photo of Pride
On June 24, 2019, Waters handed in a notice to resign from the job he had held since January 2017 after school bosses threatened him with disciplinary action.
In written submissions yesterday, Waters said his tweet was an expression of a 'Christian viewpoint' on LGBTQ Pride events, which are 'diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics'.
Waters, minister at New Connexions Free Church in Ely, wrote: 'Beliefs, culture and ethics promoted by 'Pride' are thus diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics.
'Not only does 'Pride' promote what we regard as sin; it also encourages people to
