His actions of essentially turning a private matter for that student into a public spectacle at the school's anniversary were despicable. A complete lack of care for the privacy and wellbeing of a child as he put his own religious and political views first. He allowed his ego and desire for a public spectacle to override all common sense. You do not call out your boss in a public forum on a policy decision you disagree with. This is unprofessional. Also, a breach of child protection and confidentiality if he wasn't careful about what he said. There are legal and employment mechanisms through which this matter should have been dealt. Then, after his suspension his actions were deplorable. He trespassed and harassed people. When a teacher is suspended, they can only come to a school by invite. The child safety issues alone of him creepily coming into school after being suspended make my mind boggle. Never mind how uncomfortable he would have made his work colleagues. In my opinion that is not the behaviour of someone well balanced or who cares about their students or their fellow staff.
Ultimately any grounds he had for a logical argument based on conscientious objection to refuse using the kids preferred pronouns have been lost to his quite frankly criminal behavior. Criminal, unprofessional and uncouth.
On the issue of pronouns...yeah, I don't get the fuss. If a kid is exploring who they are and asks me as a teacher to call them something else, and it's a sincere request...then sure. Whatever. I have better things to worry about as a teacher than a name: teaching curriculum, behavior issues, administrative matters, the budget cuts that are hamstringing my ability to teach, a class size of 30 kids regularly now who all have varied needs, increased SEN need etc etc. Using preferred pronouns is way down the list of things on my mind when teaching.
I have had multiple kids with 'nicknames' (PJ for Patrick Joseph, or Tommy for Thomas, nothing too mad) who asked to be called that instead of the name on the school register. Sound. No problem. Have had kids with double barrel first names who as they get older just want to be called one of their names. No problem. Have a number of foreign national children who have asked to be called by a more 'english' name so that they can fit in more. Do I agree with these kids wanting this? Personally, no. The nicknames thing I personally find a little too informal and the foreign national students wanting to use a more 'english' name I find distasteful because of the colonial overtones and loss of culture/identity. Yet I signed a work contract to uphold school policy on student dignity and pastoral care so I go along with it. That is the job.
I respect school policy and more so, I respect my students wishes. If it makes them more comfortable in my class and they are getting on with learning...grand. If I felt strongly about an issue I would use the correct channels and mechanisms to raise the issue, not make a public spectacle of myself, my students and my school.
I have had two students who wanted to change their pronouns and names for gender identity reasons. It was a bit tricky to kill the muscle memory in the beginning and get used to using their new terms but I did it because they asked. One student went on to transition fully while the other flip flopped on their gender and sexuality for a few years as they worked themselves out but last I heard they were now living as their assigned at birth gender along with their same sex partner. Did calling them the pronouns they asked for when they were a student hurt? Not that I can see. As a teacher, my job is to teach. Not to judge, not to tell a kid who they are and certainly not to force my own political or religious beliefs on them as Burke sought to do. If changing pronouns or how I address a student is how I can connect with them and make them feel comfortable in my class so they can learn to the best of their ability then that is what I will do. I want to respect my students' identities even as they grow and work them out themselves.
This man's behaviour is shameful and a black mark on the profession. He went about raising his objections completely inappropriately. What should have been an internal matter for the school has become a criminal matter, while what should have been a private matter for that student has become a public spectacle, adding more pressure and strain upon a child who is trying their hardest to work out who they are.