**UPDATED**A man who was sacked as a netball coach at a Christchurch Christian school because he is gay says he "has never felt so small" in his life. The 28-year-old wishes to remain anonymous, but he has told the Christchurch Star, "It's hard enough to go through finding yourself and accepting yourself and being 'out' in the first place. Having to go through discrimination doesn't help." The man was employed at Middleton Grange School to coach one of the girls' netball teams in February. He claims the principal later told him he could not continue in the position because the school's Board of Trustees decided his sexuality was a problem, based on Christian beliefs that homosexuality is a sin. The coach now works at another school. Middleton Grange School's Board of Trustees has been ordered to attend a human rights course, the Christchurch Star reports, while the school has also been ordered to pay him reparation. The board is refusing to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement. The amount of reparation is also confidential. The man said he was trying to look at the positive and that the apology from the school had given him closure. He says many staff and parents at the school did not support the board and principal's actions.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 21st July 2010 - 12:29pm