Swindon teacher ‘protected’ pupil by rejecting preferred pronouns

Lister also posted about his views on X, saying: “I am not going to call my #transgender students by their preferred name.

“To do so [is to] support them killing the person they were.

“To call them by their preferred name is like telling a potential #suicide victim to jump off a cliff.”

Other posts argued “sexual orientation was a choice, like whether one might want to play golf”, and that gay relationships were not “as valid” as heterosexual ones “by definition”.

At the employment appeal tribunal in London on Tuesday, Anna Loufti, representing Lister, said the teacher had been required to “socially transition” the student.

Loufti argued Lister was being required to “encourage and condone” the student’s transition, which he could not do because of his beliefs.

She added the school had not considered how the school’s policy – which states students should be referred to by their chosen name and pronouns – put the rights of transgender people and those with gender critical views in opposition.

The hearing before Justice Mansfield is due to conclude on Wednesday.