Christian mother of 4-year-old forced to partake in LGBT ritual vows to appeal judge's ruling in discrimination suit

A Christian couple took a London school to court after it reportedly coerced their 4-year-old into participating in an LGBT activist parade.

The presiding judge ultimately ruled against Christian parents Izoduwa and Shane Montague, claiming that the activist ritual did not advance "LGBT issues over other lifestyle forms" and was actually aligned with their Christian beliefs. He also underlined the importance of teaching LGBT issues in schools to ensure that "those who adhere to that lifestyle" receive a favorable treatment.

Despite this setback, the parents have not given up. They are going to appeal their case.

The inescapable LGBT ritual

According to the London-based nonprofit Christian Concern, the Heavers Farm Primary School in Croydon, South London, held a pride celebration in 2018. Parents were notified of the event only a few days in advance with a rainbow-colored invitation to attend.

Ahead of the event, young students were reportedly taught popular "gay anthems," which they were ultimately tasked with singing while marching around the school.

In addition to LGBT hymnals, the children "were also required to create rainbow themed art, which the school’s lesson plan held out as an assignment to show support for the diverse LGBT community."

Mrs. Montague, 38, asked that her son be excused from participating in the ritual since she was "concerned with him being involved in a public display of adherence to views which she did not accept," reported the Times.

According to the Christian mother, school staff and administrators became "hostile" toward her for questioning their promotion of LGBT doctrine in the school and told her that a failure on her son's part to take part in the ritual "would be seen as a behavioural issue."

Other parents were allegedly told that the parade was a "legal requirement."

Internal emails detailed in court revealed that headteacher Susan Papas suggested that the resistance of religious parents to LGBT indoctrination was the very reason why the pride parade must be mandatory, reported Christian Concern.

Concerning the Montagues' concerns about their son's compulsion to take part in the LGBT ritual, Papas said in an email to a supporter of the event, "This parent really does have a strange (and offensive) take on the world; we are working hard to make sure that the children in our schools don’t share these views!"

In one of Mrs. Montague's subsequent meetings with school staff regarding withdrawal, Papas' daughter, who also works at the school, made a show of wearing a T-shirt with the caption, "Why be Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Transphobic, when you can just be quiet," reported the Christian Post.

After Mrs. Montague complained, her son was penalized, receiving consecutive days of detention.

When the Christian mother attempted to inquire as to the nature of her son's misconduct, she was banned from the property.

The lawsuit

Izoduwa and Shane Montague removed their son from the woke school and placed him in a Catholic school but weren't willing to let the Heavers Farm Primary School off easy.

They filed suit in 2019 with the help of the Christian Legal Centre, accusing the school of running afoul of the 2010 Equality Act as well as the Human Rights Act. They further alleged that the "Pride parade" was unlawful "discrimination against children who follow their Christian or any other mainstream religion."

Their complaint stressed that the pride march was not simply part of a broader curriculum, but rather "proselytism towards a specific worldview, whereby certain lifestyles are promoted and celebrated in a manner which runs foul of the school's obligations to respect the right of parents to raise their children according to their own religious and philosophical beliefs."

Dismissal

The Central London County Court dismissed Montague's religious discrimination claim last week.

While members of the school's leadership team all suggested in oral testimonies that Christian views about homosexuality were hateful, Judge Christopher Lethem suggested that the pride parade's values were nevertheless in keeping with the parent's religious views.

"The Claimants have focussed [sic] on the use of the word 'celebrate' seeking to instill it with the suggestion that it was advancing LGBT issues over other lifestyle forms. The delivery of the teaching does not bear this out," wrote Lethem. "The celebration was of diversity and acceptance of the differences between people; no hierarchy of equalities. Thus there was little in the Parade that was inconsistent with their beliefs."

Lethem added, "The Claimants have argued that the Parade and the teaching in general amount to weaponizing education to undermine parental teaching and foster the school's view. In the cold light of day, I cannot ascertain the divergence between the teaching and the Christian views."

Despite siding with the LGBT activist educators overall, Lethem did acknowledge that it was "entirely reasonable" for the parents to view the T-shirt worn by the headmaster's daughter "as a hostile message."

Appeal

"Throughout this ordeal it has felt like I and my Christian beliefs that have been on trial," Mrs. Montague said after the dismissal.

"I am deeply insulted by the Court’s assertion that there is nothing inconsistent between my Christian beliefs and my 4-year-old being forced to march in a Pride event surrounded by rainbow pride flags and teachers wearing LGBT affirming campaigning shirts," said Montague. "This judgment bears absolutely no resemblance to the truth of what happened at the school and in the court room."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre said in a statement, "What this entire case stands for is that there are some schools in this country where biblical beliefs and Christians are not welcomed. Today’s judgment has given a green light to ideological headteachers who wish to mould young minds into LGBT advocates, and abuse any parents who dissent."

Mrs. Montague vowed that she will appeal the "perverse judgment which has made the evidence fit with the school's agenda."

Christian mother takes her son's school to court for 'forcing' him to take part in a Pride paradeyoutu.be

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