A Conservative Christian councillor is launching legal action after he was removed from several positions and had his life “dismantled” for writing on Twitter, “Pride is not a virtue but a Sin.”
King Lawal, 31, who has been a councillor at North Northamptonshire Unitary Council for two years, claims he was cancelled by seven organisations, including being suspended by the Conservative Party pending an investigation.
On June 29, he wrote on Twitter: “When did Pride become a thing to celebrate. Because of Pride Satan fell as an arch Angel. Pride is not a virtue but a Sin. Those who have Pride should Repent of their sins and return to Jesus Christ. He can save you. #PrideMonth #Pride23 #PrideParade.”
‘Impossible to Say Something Biblically Truthful’
On the same day as he made the post, he was contacted by the leader of North Northamptonshire Unitary Council who told him that he was suspended for 21 days pending an investigation.Following this call, he was then dismissed as a trustee of Groundwork Northampton, an initiative which helps disadvantaged children access green spaces.
In the dismissal letter from the CEO, he was told, “Given your activity on Twitter today and the views you have put across regarding the Pride movement and Homosexuality I’m afraid I need to ask you to leave your position as a Trustee for Groundwork Northamptonshire with immediate effect.”
He was told that the membership governance team at Conservative Campaign HQ was advising the council to suspend him and wanted the investigation to be centralised rather than local. He was told that a standards inquiry would also follow.
He was then removed as a governor of Northampton Healthcare Foundation Trust and then banned from holding a joint police and council surgery in the local Rushden and Irthlingborough LibraryPlus.
On July 3, a local authority that holds a council contract with Mr. Lawal’s family business ordered an urgent meeting and he eventually resigned.
He was also suspended as a council member for Weavers Academy, a school for 11- to 18-year-olds, where he was told the “views you have espoused are not consistent with the values of our Academy Council nor Weavers Academy.”
In a statement Mr. Lawal said, “It is now almost impossible to say something biblically truthful on sexual ethics in UK society without being cancelled and having your life ruined.”
Supported by Christian Legal Centre, Mr. Lawal has instructed lawyers to prepare legal action alleging multiple violations of his rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
‘Righteous Anger Within Me’
Mr. Lawal told The Epoch Times that he did not expect such an extreme response to his tweet.That morning he said he witnessed naked men at a Pride March “doing really odd things in front of children.”
“And that ignited the righteous anger within me,” he said.
“I only said what is biblically true,” he added.
Mr. Lawal said that his reference to Pride has been misinterpreted as “hateful” and he was not singling out specific people or groups of people as sinners.
“I’m a Bible-believing Christian. So I refer to myself as a sinner, because the Bible says that we are all sinners.”
He added that sin according to the Bible includes, lying, stealing, gossip and hatred, not just things like homosexuality, adultery, and sex outside of marriage.
‘A Monoculture Which Requires Approval’
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “What has happened to councillor Lawal has been brutal and is a clear case of viewpoint discrimination against a standard expression of Christian belief.“Where is ‘diversity,’ ‘tolerance,’ and ‘inclusion’ here? We have only a monoculture which requires approval, allegiance and promotion of LGBT Pride no matter what.
“Institutions and even the government have been captured to such an extent by this ideology that if you speak against it, within a week, you can become a ‘non-person.’
“The pace at which councillor Lawal has been essentially removed from public life for expressing his beliefs is disturbing as he has been democratically elected and undemocratically cancelled.
“Local authorities, schools and even libraries cannot be allowed to discriminate against and exclude Christians and their beliefs under the increasingly draconian and oppressive banner of ‘inclusivity.’
“We stand with councillor Lawal and will support him through multiple legal cases unless he is fully reinstated, his reputation restored, and his business protected.”
Councillor Jason Smithers, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council, told The Epoch Times by email that “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on this specific case at the current time.”
“North Northamptonshire Council is committed to reducing inequality within our communities and creating a fair and inclusive environment for everyone. We fully support our LGBTQ+ community, as we support all communities,” he said,
“North Northamptonshire Council is committed to treating all people fairly, and we want to instil a culture of inclusion across all areas of the council, its services and local communities,” he added.
The Epoch Times contacted the Conservative Party, Northampton Healthcare Foundation Trust, and Groundwork Northampton for comment.
