Higgs Wins Appeal Over Anti-LGBT+ Post Dismissal

Kristie Higgs, a Christian teaching assistant, was dismissed from Farmor's School in Gloucestershire in 2019 after sharing social media posts criticizing LGBT+ education plans in primary schools, including comments on transgender ideology. Her dismissal for gross misconduct led to a legal challenge, and in June 2023, the Employment Appeal Tribunal initially ruled in her favor but ordered a fresh tribunal hearing. Her lawyers contested this requirement, and the Court of Appeal ruled on Wednesday that sending the case back was 'unlawfully discriminatory'. The judges determined that her beliefs, protected under the Equality Act, could not justify dismissal based on reputational risks alone. This decision represents a notable legal victory for Higgs and underscores the protection of religious beliefs in employment contexts.