Sexuality and religion: from the court of appeal to the social work classroom

ABSTRACT

This paper critically reviews the case of a social work student whose professional training was terminated by his University. This followed the student’s expression of his religious views about homosexuality on a public social media platform. The student sought a judicial review of this decision on human rights grounds. The High Court dismissed the student’s challenge but the Court of Appeal overturned this decision to dismiss on the grounds of proportionality and referred the student back to the University to determine further action. This case is discussed in the context of the complicated positions taken up during the process leading to this legal Judgment, as they have implications for curriculum and pedagogical strategies, fitness to practice processes, and the experience of LGBTQ+ students. The discussion considers how, in light of this Judgment, social work educators can continue to address sexuality as a social justice issue. Critical and queer perspectives can support transformative learning where binary thinking about sexuality and religion is challenged and students can appreciate the impact of their values on others. Recommendations are made for addressing disparities in how sexuality, sexual, and gender diversity are addressed in professional education.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBTQ+
• sexuality
• religion
• suitability
• fitness to practice
• social work education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karl Mason

Karl Mason is a Lecturer in Social Work at Royal Holloway, University of London.  His research interests relate to adult social care and homelessness and he is completing his PhD on the experience of need from the perspective of people who are homeless. He is a registered social worker with Social Work England and has experience of social work practice in the UK and Ireland.

Christine Cocker

Christine Cocker is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of East Anglia. Recent research projects she has been involved with include an EU project investigating homophobia in schools, an ESRC project researching LGBT young people in care, a systematic literature examining transparenting through the lifespan, and a scoping study investigating local authorities responses to transitional safeguarding, which is supporting young people with safeguarding needs through the transition to adulthood.  She is a registered social worker with Social Work England.

Trish Hafford-Letchfield

Trish Hafford-Letchfield is Professor of Social Work at the University of Strathclyde.  Her research interests are in the experiences of older people from marginalised communities in using care services, arts-based pedagogies and engaging service users in social work education.