A BBC Three Counties radio presenter, Ian Lee, repeatedly referred to the Bible and Christian Barry Trayhorn’s views on biblical standards for sexual relationships as hateful, and called him ‘obnoxious’ in an interview on 3 November.
Barry, who is a Pentecostal church minister, was being interviewed after having been forced to resign from his job at Littlehay prison, one of eight exclusive sex offender jails in the UK. He had begun work there as a gardener and then been asked by the chaplain to undertake some preaching work in the prison chapel. He had read some verses from 1 Corinthians 6 and had not singled out the section concerning gay sex, but had rather focused on repentance and forgiveness. A complaint had been made sometime after the service and the harassment Trayhorn experienced after this made it untenable for him to continue his work.
‘Not here to listen’
Ian Lee, of BBC Three Counties, called the lines from the Bible homophobic and constantly remarked that the Bible was written by people. He said: ‘I find the view that being gay is sinful completely repugnant and hateful. That view is so obnoxious. God, you’re [Barry] obnoxious.’
Throughout the interview the BBC’s Ian Lee kept interrupting Barry Trayhorn and even said at one point: ‘We’re not here to listen.’
Both on the radio and in his talk Barry had referred to himself as the most terrible sinner he knew. He also attempted to put the verses into context, but was not given an opportunity to speak.
The case is currently being heard in Bedford at an Employment Tribunal.
