Illinois Social Security Administration worker David Hall says that he would rather be fired from his job than be forced to watch a workplace diversity video.
The 42-year-old man says that watching a video about maintaining professionalism and humanity while interacting with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people violates his religious beliefs, and he’s willing to risk his job rather than watch it.
As a Christian, Hall says he believes that the Bible makes it very clear that homosexuality is a sin. According to Hall he is “not anti-anyone or anything” and simply “for God, for Jesus.”
According to the News-Gazette, Hall has worked for the Social Security Administration for 14 years and is willing to throw it away over the fact that, in April, employees were told to watch a 17-minute video on LGBT diversity and inclusion and certify that they had watched it after.
Hall was given orders on both June 2 and June 24 to watch the video and refused both times. After asking to be exempt from the video on religious grounds, he was denied. He was then officially reprimanded and suspended without pay for two days. After the suspension, Hall was told that he would face further consequences if he did not watch the video.
According to Hall:
“I think this is an issue they are prepared to go to the mat with, but I’m not going to give up my faith or compromise my beliefs just to go along and get along. I don’t believe God wants me to do that.”
He also thinks that “tolerance is a two way street,” meaning that members of the LGBT community and his superiors should respect his intolerance.
“To give other Christians the courage of their convictions. I can’t tell you how many I’ve worked with that have told me, ‘Dave, we agree with you 100 percent. I wish I had the courage to do that.’ But they’re scared. … Their fears are being realized through me.”
Chicago attorney Jason Craddock, who is advising Hall, has a history of representing Christians who feel they are being persecuted. He represented a bed and breakfast that refused to host same-sex weddings for religious reasons in 2011 and was later forced to pay over $80,000 for violating the Human Rights Act.
Craddock says he is currently looking into similar cases where Christians refuse to participate in sinful activities, like watching 17 minute videos on workplace diversity.
Watch WCIA‘s report in the video below:
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