Free Speech What Do Grans Think?

There are lots of ways this can impact individuals

We have the equality act which protects people with certain characteristics

We have laws around hate speech

Companies may have policies that cover those who work for them or use their services

Any individual liberty we have does not come before anyone else's...

Therefore there are repercussions in many areas for expressing certain views. No one has to listen to anyone's views.

I've literally had "Freedom of speech" shouted at me in the past even though technically, we do not have it. I don't have to stand and listen to anyone

I think GSD has put it succinctly and I totally agree with what she has written.

I agree with Germanshepherdsmum on this. In any society free speech has constraints of law and custom and may have consequences. Those in public office need to be aware of the responsibilities that go with it.

His freedom of speech and religion have not been violated. The Conservative Party supports gay marriage. He can hold his homophobic views but can’t express them and expect to represent the Conservative Party. Councillors and MP’s have to represent their constituents without fear or favour. I don’t expect he’d offer a positive service to gay men

I was brought up in the Church of England and I’m an occasional churchgoer. His views would not be welcome in our local churches.

It depends on the context.

Pride (as in vanity) is one of the deadly sins referred to in the Bible

Pride, sometimes called vanity or hubris, is considered the fundamental sin and the mother of all vices. The first sin ever committed was an act of pride when Satan refused to recognize God as his Lord

It was Pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. - St. Augustine

So he is correct in a Biblical context.

Pride is being proud of who you are. It's about not worrying what others will think of you or being discriminated against based on your race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation. Pride means acceptance and authenticity of self.

Pride has been chosen as the name for people who should feel no shame for who they are.
We can feel pride in our achievements.

Neither is sinful.

He could argue he meant the former but in fact, in the context reported, he meant the latter.

Doodledog puts it very well. There are limits to free speech in public when what is said is contrary to law and is hurtful.

I vote Conservative (but am not a party member) and am a member of the Church of England. So there’s a slight conflict for me between the law and the Bible. However I think that in this predominantly secular society a clear message had to be sent - and it was. A councillor is supposed to represent everyone in their ward regardless of faith, ethnicity or sexual persuasion.

I guess there are a lot of people who get irritated by the amount of news generated by Pride. I am old enough to recall how many Gays were scared to come out, so I think that once being gay was fine with the majority that it is a relief to many people and so they are entitled to celebrate. However, I think this man could have been warned that his remarks were not acceptable and to stop worthwith. I think his treatment was very harsh. I am also a a member of the Church of England and think that we cannot deny we can find many references to homosexuality in the bible. He obviously takes the holy book literally forgetting that social mores change. I think that Christians in many countries were converted hundreds of years ago when homosexuality was taboo. I know this from living in such countries because gay life is not well tolerated. I think I am just uncomfortable about the way people think they cannot speak what they really believe in case they get reported and punished.

Skydancer

We are not free to express our opinions any more unless they are what is believed to be politically correct. We all have to be careful these days. If I expressed some of my views on this site I would be banned that's for sure.

Absolutely!

He is not commenting on sinful pride, but on what he refers to as 'sexual ethics'. As the comment was related to Pride, (as opposed to pride) then yes, the comment comes across as homophobic, particularly as he refers to Pride as something that 'God calls 'sin''. He must have known what he was saying, and that it would contradict the values of the party he represents. I don't vote Conservative, but if I did I wouldn't want to be represented by a councillor who felt like that (or, alternatively, who was too obtuse to understand that his comments would be offensive to many).

I don't think this contradicts a right to free speech, just the right to say hurtful things and remain a councillor affiliated to the party which brought in the right to gay marriage. He can think what he likes, and express those thoughts privately, but there is a time to speak your mind, and a time to mind your speech. Tweeting homophobic comments falls into the latter part of that truism.

Responding to images of Pride parades organised by LGBT groups at the end of last month, he wrote: “When did pride become a thing to celebrate? Because of pride, Satan fell as an archangel. 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.”

He's equating gay people with sin - which is not a very kind thing to do.

He's free to say it, and various organisations are free to say they don't want to be associated with him and his thoughts.

Just read what he allegedly said, my interpretation of it is that this has been taken as being homophobic.

We are not free to express our opinions any more unless they are what is believed to be politically correct. We all have to be careful these days. If I expressed some of my views on this site I would be banned that's for sure.