Maureen Martin, a Christian mayoral candidate for Lewisham, has launched legal action after being fired by her housing association employer L&Q for “gross misconduct” after she expressed her views on marriage. 

In her election manifesto, Maureen Martin shared a graphic stating her positions on issues such as housing, knife crime, and marriage. “I pledge to cut through political correctness and simply state the truth that natural marriage between a man and a woman is the fundamental building block for a successful society and the safest environment for raising children”, – she wrote. 

It didn’t take long before several social media users reported her statement as “hate speech” and therefore was “illegal”. A few days later, Martin got contacted by her employer’s HR office. 

She was told that three anonymous complaints had been against her, calling Martin „hateful” and a „bigoted moron„. The third complaint urged LONDON & Quadrant Housing Trust to provide Martin with „anti-oppressive training and for disciplinary action to be taken to address her statements„.

In the following meeting with her employer’s HR office, the Christian candidate was told that her manifesto and social media publications were considered „homophobic” and that they were „in breach of the company’s social media policy„.

In an interview with Christian Concern, she expressed her bitterness regarding the whole situation.

“What’s the point in being allowed freedom of speech if you can’t have it? […] I’m a Christian. It’s just my preference that marriage is between a man and a woman. My view doesn’t affect my job in any way and hasn’t been done since 2007. I’ve had no complaints from people of other sexual orientations or colleagues. I’ve never displayed or raised homophobic opinions in any form in my job,„- she explained. 

Maureen Martin was suspended until the 4th of May due to „discrimination via homophobic tweets” and for bringing „L&Q into disrepute„. L&Q’s decision prevents her from resuming her mayoral campaign. 

In an article posted on The Critic, Maureen Martin wrote that “free speech and Christian freedoms are fundamental aspects of democratic societies and must be protected at all costs.”

“Our ability to freely express our views and openly disagree with each other is the core essence of democracies. The alternative is forced censorship and the threat of losing everything if you don’t comply,” – she added. 

Toby Young, the head of the Free Speech Union (FSU) in the UK, commented on the case by stating that although he “did not agree with Maureen”, he would “die in a ditch to defend her right to say what she thinks.„

Image: YouTube (Christian Concern/Screenshot)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen