There were quotation marks around the statement.
And this from the AP:
Peterson, who had worked for Hewlett-Packard for 21 years, objected on religious grounds to the diversity posters the company put up calling for tolerance of gay employees. As a devoted Christian, he said he had a duty "to expose evil when confronted with it" and did that by posting the bible verses where other employees could see them.Among those verses was the highly controversial passage from Leviticus: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
His supervisor removed the verses because they could be offensive to other employees, prompting a series of meetings between managers and Peterson. A resolution of the dispute could not be worked out, and Peterson informed company officials that as long as they condoned homosexuality through their diversity campaign, he would oppose it.
He was given some time off with pay to consider his position, but when he returned to work he again posted the verses. Following additional meetings with managers, he was fired for insubordination.