YOU matter – so make your voice heard

British Airways has issued new guidance to its male cabin crew and pilots, encouraging them to “be bold, be proud, be yourself”.  This, however, appears to extend only to those wishing to wear mascara, false eyelashes and lipstick, and to paint their nails and carry a handbag.   ‘Male’ staff have also been given permission to have long hair and wear it in a bun, though for the moment the airline is retaining female-specific uniform (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/all-british-airways-male-pilots-and-crew-can-now-wear-make-up-and-carry-a-handbag-k9j5t8nr6).   That too is expected shortly to change.
 
The endorsement of men dressing as women is affirmation of non-binary values and can only further promote and normalise gender confusion.   But of even greater concern perhaps, is that such promotion is a clear and open affront to Christian belief, which states that God created humankind in His own image as male and female (Genesis 1:27), and which further enjoins that men and women dress appropriately (e.g. Deuteronomy 22:5 “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God”).  While all have freedom to choose how they wish to behave, therefore, such a policy can act only to marginalise and discriminate against people of faith.
 
In similar – though perhaps more covert – fashion, the Online Safety Bill currently before Parliament, and which aims to make social media firms responsible for policing ‘legal but harmful’ content, might all too easily be used to restrict views deemed unacceptable to the prevailing culture (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0121/220121.pdf).

The cultural drive to enforce ‘inclusivity and diversity’ is unquestionably designed to protect, promote, and normalise rebranded LGBTQ+ values and life-style choices.   Any such opportunity as that being offered by the Bill will, therefore, be exploited by those wishing to suppress more traditional views and bring about social change.   Although the mantra is ‘inclusivity and diversity’, in practice any such an outlook is profoundly exclusionary, and discriminates against Christians.  
 
Historically, our justice system and laws are founded on Christian teaching and belief, which holds that all men and women are created equal in the image of God and, in the absence of any crime, have an unquestioned right to freedom. Yet in and through the prioritisation of so-called inclusivity – which increasingly seeks to criminalize any expression of criticism or concern, no matter how well founded or justified – those values are under attack.  
 
This is a travesty of our law.
 
Schedule 1, Article 9 of the Human Rights Act 1998 gives an absolute right to freedom of thought, belief and religion, and the right to manifest and practise such belief without interference or restriction.  It states, ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom …  either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest (that) religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance’ (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/schedule/1).

It is surely time for Christians to stand up ‘proudly’ for our beliefs, and to insist on equal protection against intimidation and discrimination.
 
Please sign our petition calling on His Majesty’s Government to defend Christian belief, and to protect believers against any and all intimidation and attack.  

Stop discrimination against Christians

Sign here:  https://citizengo.org/en-gb/signit/209501/view

Please also write in support to your MP, to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Justice Secretary, and the Secretary of State for Education, expressing your concern at the growing discrimination against Christians and attempts to suppress expression of our faith.