- Conference
- 2019 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 1 January 2019
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the recent protests against the ‘No Outsiders’ method of teaching young children about equality, in particular lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) relationships, to encourage acceptance at an early age. There has been a misuse of religion as an excuse to attack LGBT+ rights, and this is not the first time religious groups have been hijacked by those who seek to attack our lives.
This conference notes the lack of condemnation in the United Kingdom and across the world against this attack upon our rights, to live our lives for who we are, using the false claim that this is to protect children. There is a significant difference between teachings on different lifestyles, to sex education. Promoting understanding that the world we live in is diverse is a principle that is necessary to underpin a culture of tolerance and respect for each other.
We know that the earlier children are taught about acceptance, equality and inclusivity, the more likely they are to be open to understanding and recognising the differences within our diverse communities.
Conference condemns the levels of intimidation and hatred being displayed at school gates and against school staff. Such hatred can only cause suffering and will have a negative impact on all, including disabled children and staff, who experience this.
Conference is dissatisfied with any politician and religious leaders who make excuses for, ignore, or fail to intervene and challenge those inciting such protests.
Conference firmly believes that all public services, including education, must be inclusive of LGBT+ people. It welcomes the ‘No Outsider’ programme which addresses inclusion of people in all equality strands; ‘Time for Inclusive Education’ in Scotland; and the Barnardo’s ‘Positive Identities Service’ which are examples of best practice in inclusive education programmes.
Conference is opposed to:
1. Social media platforms that continue to give a platform to and that are often used to co-ordinate and propagate such protests;
2. Those who use schools and seek positions on school governing boards in order to impose their narrow and strict views in the classroom, especially when this leads to direct discrimination not just against LGBT+ people, but often also by gender, race and disability;
3. Those who respond to such protests by general attacks on religious belief or faith rather than the misuse and misrepresentation of such.
Conference calls upon the national LGBT+ committee to:
A. Revisit historic campaigns against similar homophobic protests that were the background to the infamous clause 28 in order to develop a clear focus and strategy;
B. Work with others across the trade union movement, LGBT+ allies in faith communities and LGBT+ communities to support and promote LGBT+ inclusive education;
C. Communicate our support to the schools and teaching staff involved;
D. Write to UNISON branches to ask them if they will add their support to the schools and teaching staff involved in LGBT+ education;
E. Highlight the dangers of complacency after two decades of progress in rights for LGBT+ people, and to actively campaign against those who are seeking to roll back these rights often not through legal means but through high profile protests and lobbying;
F. Confirm support as a national self-organised group for the ‘No Outsiders’ method of teaching;
G. Work with Labour Link to campaign for changes to safeguarding policies, that would prevent or disbar any person who engages in protests that promote discrimination, or challenge the validity of LGBT+ inclusive education or equal human rights, from any position within schools.