Rainbow Refuseniks and other Religious Heretics

That’s Debatable! is the weekly podcast of the Free Speech Union. Hosts Lynsey Metcalfe and Jan MacVarish – both staffers at the FSU – talk about the free speech controversies that have erupted in the past week. Please like, subscribe and share.

Jan is joined this week by FSU Case Officer Lynsey Metcalfe. They discuss stories of more ‘rainbow refuseniks’ – in this case, two footballers who have been punished by the French footballing authorities for blacking out rainbow-related insignia on their kit – and Lynsey tells how the FSU caseload reflects similar instances of resistance to the Pride agenda, in particular amongst those of religious faith.

While the football examples involve players of various faiths, there is a strong perception at present that when professed by Christians, conservative beliefs are more likely to be policed than when others of different faiths say similar things. For example, research conducted by the FSU into the policing of street preachers seems to confirm this perception, with Christians found to be only faith group subjected to arrest, despite the researchers actively searching for cases involving other religion.

Finally, Lynsey and Jan consider the profoundly isolating effects of having to conceal one’s beliefs when others are invited to express theirs, in workplaces, institutions and other areas of life.

That's Debatable! is edited by Jason Clift