Lessons in gay rights backed for classrooms
SCOTLAND’S children’s tsar has backed calls for gay rights lessons in schools. Children’s Commissioner Tam Baillie said it was time to tackle discrimination of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) pupils in schools.
He backed the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign, which wants the Scottish Government to commit to a new approach to tackle homophobic bullying.
Mr Baillie said: ‘Schools have a crucial role in developing our children and young people and it is time to tackle the discrimination of our LGBTI communities in school settings.
‘This should be addressed by the Scottish Government and education providers to ensure we live up to our international rights obligations and to create school communities based on equality and respect for all.’
A recent report, published by the TIE campaign, found that 90 per cent of LGBTI people experienced homophobia at school, with 27 per cent of LGBTI school pupils reporting that they had attempted to take their own life as a result of bullying.
The campaigners are calling for new legislation.
A TIE spokesman said: ‘All children have a right to an inclusive education but, currently, many LGBTI learners in Scotland are not receiving any form of education which is reflective of their identity or the issues affecting them.
‘We are clear that this must be addressed, and we believe that all schools should be inclusive environments for LGBTI youth.
‘We are delighted that the Children and Young People’s Commissioner has supported our campaign and we hope this will influence our decision makers to take more affirmative steps towards addressing the culture of silence around LGBTI within education.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Bullying of any form is entirely unacceptable which is why we are continually working with local authorities and teachers to challenge any racist, homophobic and abusive behaviour in our schools.’
The spokesman added: ‘All schools
‘Bullying of any form is unacceptable’
and local authorities should have anti-bullying policies in place.
‘We will publish an updated antibullying strategy to ensure that bullying of all kinds, including prejudice-based, is recorded accurately and monitored effectively.
‘This will continue to be supported by respectme, Scotland’s antibullying service. While Scotland does not have a statutory curriculum, relationships, sexual health and parenthood education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the curriculum in Scotland and this includes issues relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people or children with LGBTI parents.’