Church Fights On After Firing Gay Teacher

“Religious intolerance has generated more wars, misery and suffering than any other type of disorientation or bias. In the name of this or that deity, for the glory of a divine cause or in order to settle abstruse theological disputes, human blood has been shed for thousands of years.”

This was the opening quote of counsel for ousted gay music teacher, Johan Strydom, in final argument in his case against the Ned Geref Kerk, Moreleta Park.

Strydom is claiming a public apology from the church, as well as more than R200 000 in damages for being fired due to his sexual orientation.

You can read the rest of this story at iol.co.za, or find more on Johan Strydom here on gayagenda.com.

Dutch Music Teacher Fired for Being Gay

A tearful gay music lecturer who was given the boot by the Dutch Reformed Church in Moreleta Park has told the Pretoria high court he was fired because of his sexual orientation.

Johan Strydom, 31, is claiming more than R100 000 from the church - R16 758 for loss of income for 2005, R35 000 for estimated loss of income for the following year and R50 000 for the impairment of his dignity.

He is also demanding an apology from the church.

The church, on the other hand, maintains that homosexuality is a sin and condemned by the church.

Read more at iol.co.za.