Kids will lose vital relationships education, say campaigners

Gay humanists in the UK have reacted angrily to the to news that the British government has caved in to religious pressure, especially from Roman Catholic sources, concerning sex and relationships education.

An amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill tabled by Schools Secretary Ed Balls would permit state-funded “faith schools” to teach sex and relationships education (SRE), “in a way that reflects the school’s religious character.” However, the UK’s only gay humanist educational charity, the Pink Triangle Trust, thinks this denies young people an adequate education in the matters. Its secretary, George Broadhead, said: “It is outrageous that the government is planning to deny young people the right to accurate, balanced PSHE [personal, social and health education] and sex and relationships education, and allow state-funded schools to teach the subject from a religious viewpoint. By taking this position, it is implicitly condoning homophobia in schools and undermining attempts to tackle homophobic bullying. This looks like another Section 28.” Section 28 was a section of the Local Government Act of 1988, which forbade the “promotion” of homosexuality by local authorities in the UK, thus leading to much self-censorship by schools. No one was ever prosecuted under the Act, introduced by the Tories and subsequently scrapped by the current Labour administration in 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in the rest of the UK. It was a much-hated piece of legislation, which led to vigorous campaigns for its repeal. Gay groups saw it as vicious and pernicious. The exemption to the Children, Schools and Families Bill referred to by Broadhead would allow Catholic schools, for example, to teach that gay relationships are a moral evil. Many humanists and LGBT campaigners say this is particularly cruel on young people who are probably still coming to terms with their sexuality. The British Humanist Association says the amendment will deprive children of proper education. And the Accord Coalition, which campaigns for inclusive education, accused Balls of condoning homophobia in schools and “undermining attempts to tackle homophobic bullying”, says the UK’s Guardian newspaper. The Coalition’s chair, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, called on the government to withdraw the amendment, which was “made under pressure.” He goes on: “It is astonishing that the government plans to deny young people of their right to accurate, balanced SRE . . . Children at faith schools have just as much right to information that could help them avoid an unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection.” The Catholic Education Service, which negotiates on behalf of bishops, boasts on its website that the amendment has been secured by its lobbying.