A suggestive Facebook photo has cost a gay teacher his job at a Baptist school in Rockingham, sparking debate about whether religious schools should be stripped of the right to discriminate on the basis of sexuality.

Craig Campbell, who worked as a relief teacher at South Coast Baptist College in Waikiki, was removed from the roster without notice last month after revealing he was in a same-sex relationship.

Mr Campbell attended the school as a student and reportedly loved teaching there over the past three years.

He is understood to have declared his relationship to senior colleagues after the social media image caught the attention of students.

South Coast Baptist College principal Des Mitchell said Mr Campbell had been loved and respected by both staff and students and, like the rest of the community, the school was on a “respectful journey of understanding” on this issue.

But he said the school community’s foundational beliefs at that time had reflected only relationships involving a male and a female.

“Young people are naturally inquisitive,” Mr Mitchell said. “The image he posted created interest in his personal life, including his sexuality. I shared with him that, at present, there is an inconsistency with his beliefs on sexuality and the college’s beliefs.”

The State Government recently sought legal advice on whether religious exemptions that enable schools to discriminate against teachers or students based on their sexuality should be removed from WA’s Equal Opportunity Act.

Camera Icon South Coast Baptist College removed the relief teacher from the roster after it emerged he was in a same sex relationship.

Veteran gay rights campaigner Brian Greig, who is leading a push to have the exemptions removed, said the “anti-gay loophole” in the law was being used to target LGBTI people and needed to be closed.

He said Tasmania had abolished its religious exemptions almost 20 years ago and it was “embarrassing” that WA had not yet done the same.

Labor MP Lisa Baker called for a wider community conversation about whether the religious exemptions needed to be reviewed.

“The fact that those clauses are a bit dated and there may be different views from the community now is really just what I think,” she said.

Mr Mitchell said he hoped WA could have a genuine conversation about the issue after last week’s Yes vote for same-sex marriage.