SACKING OF YOUTH WORKER & CHAPLAIN WELCOMED

CALL ON FMR EMPLOYERS TO REVIEW POLICIES AND TRAINING TO PREVENT FURTHER INCIDENTS

Gay rights advocates have welcomed the sacking of a Council youth worker and school chaplain for continuing to declare that same-sex attracted young people can change their sexual orientation, and have called on his former employers to review their policies and training to ensure the incident is not repeated.

On Monday, Kingborough Council youth worker and Hobart College chaplain, Troy Williams, posted a social media comment suggesting he believed same-sex attraction is unnatural, abnormal and can be changed.

In response the Kingborough Council and Scripture Union Tasmania demanded Williams apologise and attend up-coming training in LGBTI issues.

Mr Williams subsequently posted a comment online asserting that “young people have a choice in who they are and they shouldn’t be bullied by someone telling them their lot is predetermined (by someone other than God)”.

As a result, Mr Williams’ employment as a chaplain has been terminated by the Scripture Union and he has been suspended by the Kingborough Council.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“If this guy had declared left-handed or blue-eyed young people to be flawed and in need of change he’d be out on his ear.”

“It’s right that he’s out on ear over this too, given the deep damage his views do to some of those young people he was employed to support.”

Mr Croome called on the Kingborough Council and the Scripture Union to assure the public nothing like this will happen again.

“Both Kingborough Council and the Scripture Union must review their guidelines, policies and training to ensure this never, ever happens again.”

“Public money must never be spent on promoting prejudice.”

Mr Williams most recent comments are included below, and can be found here:
http://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/08/05/when-the-pink-mafia-are-in-control/

Mr Williams wife, Sharynn Williams, also commented online that her husband’s apology was not for the opinion he had expressed but because “he may have upset people”.

A news report can be found here.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome