Perth teacher fired after coming out as gay
Image: Photo: Facebook / Craig Campbell.
A teacher at a Baptist school in Perth has lost his job after coming out as gay.
Craig Campbell was removed from the relief teacher roster at South Coast Baptist College in Rockingham after telling other staff that he was in a long-term same-sex relationship, SBS News has reported.
Campbell said he was never notified that he had been removed from the roster, and had to find out from other teachers.
School principal Des Mitchell said the “school community’s foundational beliefs at that time had reflected only relationships involving a male and a female” and there was “inconsistency with his beliefs on sexuality and the college’s beliefs”.
Campbell also teaches at another school, where he is still employed.
Activists in Western Australia just weeks ago wrote to Premier Mark McGowan urging reform to close the legal loophole that allows private schools to discriminate against LGBTI people.
Former WA Democrats senator Brian Greig said the loophole allows private schools to fire gay teachers “for no reason”.
“We are now in the absurd situation where LGBTI staff in private schools will soon be able to legally get married under federal law and then legally able to be sacked the next day under state law,” Greig said.
South Coast Baptist College is in the electorate of Premier McGowan, who said he was disappointed with the situation and that the government was investigating whether the law could be changed.
“I think most people would think it should be possible to work in a school and your sexual orientation is irrelevant,” said McGowan.
