Let parents decide what age to have LGBT lessons, says Leadsom

PARENTS should be able to withdraw their children from anti-homophobia classes, Andrea Leadsom has suggested.

The Commons leader said families should ultimately decide the right age to teach children about LGBT and transgender rights – and they should not be overruled by schools.

Her comments come amid a growing rebellion among parents who oppose new legislation which would make it compulsory for primaries to teach pupils tolerance of transgender and gay people.

Although the lesson must be ‘ age appropriate’, unlike with sex education parents would not have the right to withdraw their children from such classes.

Many parents think children are too young to learn about such matters, with those from strict religious backgrounds saying it is against their faith.

A number of Muslim parents have withdrawn their children from lessons at Parkfield School in Alum Rock, Birmingham, and have been protesting outside.

Their demonstrations have forced the school to cease the ‘relationships education’ classes, and a number of other schools have followed suit.

Asked about the issue on LBC Radio yesterday, Mrs Leadsom said: ‘I think that it’s right that the Government should have passed legislation that requires that relationships and sex education is taught in schools.

‘But at the same time, I also agree that it’s right parents should be able to choose the moment at which their children become exposed to that information.

‘I think it’s important that we absolutely accept equality in every area whilst at the same time respecting that parents may have concerns about how young their children are when they become aware of these things.’

‘Important to accept equality’