A teacher who refused to use a student’s preferred pronouns in class told an employment tribunal he believed “transgender ideology is a cult”.

Kevin Lister, 60, claims he was unfairly dismissed. Dismissed for gross misconduct A complaint was made by Swindon New College in September 2022 following complaints from two students.

He refused to address a 17-year-old female student by her male name and he/him pronouns in his A-level course.

The teenager, known only as Student A, told the college in September 2021 that they wanted to be called by a boy’s name and male pronouns.

At the hearing in Bristol, Mr Lister immediately raised safeguarding issues about the request and the student’s academic performance.

Later in the school year, the teenager’s friend, known as Student B, made a formal complaint about Mr Lister’s behaviour.

Mr Lister continued to give evidence the next day, denying that he interacted with Pupil A in class in a manner that “publicly violated Pupil A’s dignity and caused distress”.

“She may have felt that way, but there is no evidence of that,” he said.

“I have never done this in public. The only person I spoke to was Student B, who instructed me to refer to Student A as a male under threat of complaint.

“I believe this student is involved in a cult. I believe transgender ideology is a cult and should not be encouraged or supported in schools.”

Mr Lister, who denies holding “extreme” views, agreed that parents should “subject to a Munchausen inquiry through a proxy” if they support their children’s desire to transition.

Student B’s complaint was investigated by Charlotte Best, the college’s student experience manager.

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Giving evidence, Mrs Best was questioned about her findings by Mr Lister and she told the hearing: “Your behavior was unfounded and repeated and amounted to harassment and bullying.

“I firmly believe that no student should be bullied by a teacher, so I stand by my opinion.

“I believe Student A is behaving poorly and not attending class because of your behavior towards them.”

The hearing continues.