LGBT Labour is calling on Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, to stand up for equality and immediately stop the distribution of homophobic material in schools.
As reported on PinkPaper.com yesterday, the politician came under fire for suggesting that the Equality Act does not cover the anti-gay content of textbooks used in the curriculum, especially faith schools.
Although this is being hotly discussed, LGBT Labour – the party's lesbian and gay advocacy group – claim there are many other legal provisions to protect LGBT pupils in schools in the Act.
James Asser, Co-Chair of LGBT Labour told us: “Michael Gove has demonstrated a disappointing failure of leadership in protecting our schoolchildren from bigoted propaganda being openly distributed in schools.
"The Government is failing in its duty to condemn discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, contributing to what can prove a difficult and sensitive period in a young LGBT person’s life.
"There are proven and obvious links between the prevalence of homophobia in our schools and young LGBT people’s experience of bullying and discrimination. Gove’s failure comes after slashing statutory guidance on bullying in schools and removing explicit reference to homophobia or transphobia.
"It’s time for Michael Gove to cut the rhetoric and stand up for equality in our nation’s schools.”
