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He said he would not 'encourage sin' by offering sex therapy to gay and lesbian couples
Relate
Christian relationship counsellor loses appeal over helping gay couples
A Christian relationship counsellor who was sacked for refusing to work with gay couples has lost his unfair dismissal appeal.
Gary MacFarlane, 47, from Bristol, lost his job with the marriage guidance service Relate last year after he said he would not "encourage sin" by offering sex therapy to gay and lesbian couples.
He was suspended in October 2007 after meetings with his manager, in which he was asked to state his views on same-sex couples. The suspension was lifted, but he said he was later labelled a "homophobe" and, following a further disciplinary hearing, was dismissed in March 2008.
In January, an employment tribunal found that he had been wrongfully dismissed by Relate, which admitted that he should have been given a notice period, but ruled that he had not been the victim of religious persecution or unfair dismissal.
MacFarlane, a former church elder, said at his appeal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London that Relate had refused to accommodate his Christian beliefs or allow him to try to overcome his reservations, but Judge Toomer dismissed his claims of harassment.
Relate's chief executive, Claire Tyler, said: "The appeal judgement validates Relate's commitment to equality of access to our services. Relate's trusted service, both in Avon and across the country, relies on making sure that all members of society, regardless of their gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation or relationship status, are able to access respectful and professional counselling and sex therapy."
