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UK: Schools fail gay children

01 November 1997

Teachers are refusing to tackle lesbian and gay topics in the classroom for fear of falling foul of the infamous Section 28, of the Local Government Act (1988), which makes it illegal for a local authority to "intentionally promote homosexuality" or to promote the teaching within schools of the "acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

Research carried out by the University of London's Institute of Education revealed that over 50% of schools claimed that they had difficulties when addressing the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual children because of Section 28. The demand for addressing lesbian and gay issues was demonstrated by further research showing that 30% of schools stated that they were aware of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils, while over 80% of schools were aware of verbal or physical homophobic bullying.

In response to the report, published in November, Ivor Widdison of the Council of Local Education Authorities pointed out the need for urgent action: "given that the government is not far from lowering the age of consent for gay men to 16 then it really must address the issues that affect young lesbian and gay schoolchildren", he said.

Campaigners want the government to go further. Angela Mason, of the gay rights group Stonewall, has called on the government to issue guidelines to schools on dealing with homophobia. She goes on to state that "more importantly Section 28 needs to be repealed without delay so that teachers are free to provide gay kids with help". In response a spokeswoman for Education Minister Estelle Morris said that the minister would "study the new report's findings closely".

Pink Paper 17.10.97