Sex adviser sacked in gay row
A counsellor claims he was sacked after voicing concerns that his Christian beliefs might prevent him giving sex therapy to gay couples.
Solicitor Gary McFarlane, from Hanham, is taking the Bristol branch of counselling service Relate to an employment tribunal on December 1.
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The 47-year-old will claim unfair dismissal on grounds of religious discrimination, saying that supervisors refused to accommodate his religious beliefs.
The father-of-two, who has lived in Bristol for 40 years, told the Evening Post: "I don't have an axe to grind but what they did is wrong.
"At the time it was happening people were being very, very sensitive about Muslim issues. It would have been very different if that was my religion.
"It feels like Christians are being bashed around. As a sector we do have some rights and I'm taking this issue up to help others in my situation who might have left it.
"Relate are supposed to be at the forefront of tackling issues like this."
After 20 years in the legal profession, Mr McFarlane decided to make a career shift to counselling and joined Relate in 2003. He was a partner of a law firm in Bristol and sits on a committee advising the Law Society.
Mr McFarlane is a former elder of the Bristol Elim Church and regularly attends Pentecostal and Church of England services. He is also a part-time tutor to Trinity Theological College, in Stoke Bishop, whose Church of England leader is Canon George Kovoor, Chaplain to the Queen.
In his early years as a counsellor he says he helped two lesbian couples resolve conflicts and worked through his qualms about homosexuality.
He said: "I even received a letter from one couple thanking me."
But he says a rift occurred between Mr McFarlane and his supervisors after he began to train as a psychosexual therapist but felt he might find it difficult to treat the intimate problems of same sex partners.
Mr McFarlane said: "I approached my supervisor who said Relate may be open to accusations of discrimination if I took issue with a same sex couple.
"I felt that sex therapy is more directive than counselling – more like a doctor's role in asking each couple multiple questions and setting out a treatment plan.
In January this year Mr McFarlane was suspended. He says he decided to comply with Relate's policies and was reinstated after three weeks but that some of his colleagues launched a petition calling for him to be dismissed.
Mr McFarlane said: "I don't go about throwing the Bible around. I allow my life to speak for me. By going to the tribunal I want to stand up for the fair treatment of Christians.
A Relate spokeswoman said the group could not comment until the employment tribunal has taken place.
The controversy follows a case earlier this year in which Christian registrar Lillian Ladele won an employment tribunal against Islington Council in London over her refusal to conduct civil partnership ceremonies for gay couples.
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by SC, East Anglia
Friday, November 28 2008, 8:34PM
“Mr MacFarlane is most certainly not homophobic or a bigot. As a Christian, he would clearly say that his christian love extends to all men and women regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, etc., but has just asked that he does not treat same-sex couples when it comes to the intimate practicalities of their physical relationship. He is not criticising them in any way, but actually helping them by allowing someone else who feels better able to help them to do so. In the same way, why shouldn't a gay counsellor prefer to not treat a hererosexual couple.
What's wrong here is not that Mr MacFarlane asked to not treat same-sex couples in that particular situation, but his colleagues and managers themselves taking such an uncompromising position, and also the direct breech of confidentiality by his managers. That is inexcusable.
What is wrong with people to not accommodate, in this one small way, someone who has demonstrated such care and expertise in his work.”
by Jacek, Krakow
Sunday, November 16 2008, 9:19AM
“If we want to assure that white is white, and bleck i black, we have to say that Gary McFarlane is right. Should he be as as flag? Once to the left, once to the right? Political correctness is based on false. A reverence to McFarlane because of his braveness. I think it is just what should each christia do. To say: yes, I can lose my job, my goods, because of Lords love.”
by Steven, North Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 11:51AM
“Mr MacFarlane should get himself another job where his supernatural delusions won't prevent him from doing what he is paid to do.”
by Delroy, Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 9:36AM
“Pete maybe these definitions will help you.
What is homophobia anyway? Here are some definitions I found:
homophobia
1. Aversion to gay or homosexual people or their lifestyle or culture.
2. Behavior or an act based on this aversion.
(The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 3rd ed., 1992)
homophobia
Irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.
(Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed., 1993)
homophobia
n. 1. unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality. [1955-60; HOMO (SEXUAL) + - PHOBIA] Derived words --ho'mo-phobe, n.; ho mo-pho'bic, adj.
(Random House/Webster's Online Dictionary, Version 1 for Windows, 1992.)”
by Martin, Knowle,Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 8:58AM
“Poking fun at religion? Its not that funny.Mostly I see in these comments people voicing very relevant criticisms about religion, and Christianity in particular, to be of any use in dealing with the problems of today.
If the guy wants to run his life and judge others using Christian rules then he is no good at the job. He as good as said so himself.”
by Delroy, Bristol
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 8:28AM
“If I was to refuse to give help to a person who was of a different ethnic origin or culture and it was my job I would be labelled a racist. Therefore a person who refuses to help a person because they are a homosexual is a Homophobe. Pete you obviously are very socially unaware. I personally question the christian faith as if it was so caring they would treat people of all sexualities equally and with respect and dignity. Mr Macfarlane feels he cannot do that because of his homophobic religious beliefs .
as for helping Gays in the past, it was his job!. It still does not mean he isn't a disapproving homophobe.”
by Pete, Bristol
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 9:25PM
“No Tommy I haven't missed the point... People are commenting that Mr Macfarlene is a homophobe and a bigot because of his beliefs..
If he had applied to be a sexual therapist to gays and lesbians exclusively, then I could understand your arguements.
If we take the article as it is, we see that he has helped same sex couples before, which somewhat undermines the argument that he is infact prejudiced towards same sex couples.
The real irony is that the people poking fun at religion on this comment board and accusing Macfarlene of being a bigot, are themseleves acting like bigots!
The bottom line is that Mr Macfarlene does not anywhere mention any personal hatred towards gays or lesbians, so can we please stop labeling him as a homophobe and a bigot.”
by Spartacus, Bristol
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 7:07PM
“Simon,
If it is any comfort, Mid Winter was celebrated long before the Christian Church hijacked it.”
by Kevin, Portishead
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 6:29PM
“Surely a counsellor should be able to offer objective, unbiased advice to a whole cross-section of society. He should not be allowed to discriminate against one section because of his religious beliefs. If he feels he can not do the job, then he should look for more suitable employment elsewhere.”
by Simon, Bristol
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 5:52PM
“AL,
I totally respect that everyone has the right to their religion. What I dislike is the weighting it has when it comes to everything.
To answer your question - I don't celebrate Easter. I avail myself of some of the bountiful chocolate but would not miss it if it were not there. Christmas? Because it is a time to be together with friends and family because tradition has meant that society sees it as a break and it is a convenient time to get together. As Spartacus says, we are not moral vacuums, we atheists can still love our family and friends!”