Schools in England Are Now Required to Teach about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
All England schools will be required to teach an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, according to CBN News.
The policy from the England Department of Education includes topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity and healthy relationships, which will be discussed at the high school level. At primary schools, children will learn about different families, including LGBTQ families.
“We want to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe,” a Department for Education spokesperson told NBC News.
According to the policy, the new education initiatives will help students with their “mental wellbeing” and “to know how to be safe and healthy.”
“This is why we have made Relationships Education compulsory in all primary schools in England and Relationships and Sex Education compulsory in all secondary schools, as well as making Health Education compulsory in all state-funded schools,” the policy reads.
A representative from Britain’s leading pro-LGBTQ organization, Stonewall, said the decision will help students become more “inclusive.”
“LGBT-inclusive education is about teaching that some children have two mums or two dads. Learning about different kinds of families from a young age helps create inclusive environments so everyone feels they belong,” said Sidonie Bertrand-Shelton.
Added Josh Bradlow, the policy manager at Stonewall: “This is a landmark step forward. For me, it would have been life-changing to receive this education.
“This teaching will have just as strong an impact on LGBT people as non-LGBT people,” he said. “I think this plays a tremendous and decisive role in helping to tackle bullying.”
In November 2019, parents protested against the proposal for LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum. Parents held signs that said “My Child My Choice,” “Let Kids Be Kids,” and “Say No to Sexualisation to Children.”
Despite protests, the English parliament voted 538 to 21 in favor of the curriculum starting in September 2020.
Under the policy, parents can request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of the lessons.
Photo courtesy: ©Etereuti/Pixabay
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
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