As members or leaders of religion and belief groups, educationists, campaigners and school leaders, we are concerned by reports that the Department for Education is planning to dilute the advice it publishes on the independent school standards, to no longer stipulate that all independent schools must teach respect for LGBT people. This poses a significant safeguarding risk to LGBT young people, who are still subject to significant levels of homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying.
Research shows that 45% of LGBT pupils are subject to bullying because of their identity, and the majority hear discriminatory language in school. Challenging LGBT discrimination in school lessons and in everyday school life is fundamental to fostering equality at school and in wider society. This teaching should take place at both primary and secondary level, to stem the development of anti-LGBT prejudice and to support LGBT people in the school community.
It’s important to recognise that being LGBT and having a religion are not mutually exclusive. LGBT people are members of all communities, across religions and non-religious worldviews. While it is possible for schools to consider issues from a range of religion or belief perspectives, fundamentally all schools, including those with a religious character, must provide lessons that inform young people of their rights, and promote a culture of inclusion and acceptance of diversity.
That’s why we urge the secretary of state to ensure that, irrespective of the type of school they attend, all children are supported and allowed to thrive through education that actively promotes respect and encourages LGBT acceptance.
Fiyaz Mughal Director, Faith Matters
Andrew Copson Chief executive, Humanists UK
Lynnette Smith Chair, Sex Education Forum
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism
Rev Stephen Terry Chair, Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education
Very Rev Jeffrey John Dean of St Albans
Kevin Courtney Joint general secretary, The National Education Union
Dr Mary Bousted Joint general secretary, National Education Union
Deborah Gold Chief executive, National Aids Trust
Ian Green Chief executive officer, Terrence Higgins Trust
Neil Roskilly Chief executive officer, The Independent Schools Association
Rev Jane Fraser Manager of the relations and sex education charity Bodysense
Professor Becky Francis Director, UCL Institute of Education
Rabbi Danny Rich Chief executive, Liberal Judaism
Rt Rev David Gillett Former Anglican Bishop of Bolton
Rev Heston Groenewald Vicar, All Hallows Church, Leeds
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi Birmingham Synagogue
Rev Richard Jones Associate minister, Hereford Diocese
Rev Canon Peter Leonard Chair of OneBodyOneFaith and acting dean andcanon chancellor of Portsmouth Cathedral
Rev Iain McDonald United Reformed Church
Very Rev Bertrand Olivier Church of England
Rev Professor Michael J Reiss UCL Institute of Education
Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain Maidenhead Synagogue
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah
Rev Tim Stead Church of England
Rev Robert Thompson Church of England
Rev Tony Whatmough Team rector, Headingly team ministry
Rev Claire Wilson Church of England
Rev Simon Wilson Heacham, Norfolk, Church of England
Derek McAuley Chief officer, General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
Paul Bishop Assistant headteacher and director of sixth form, Saint Cecilia’s Church of England School
Luke Dowding Co-director, Affirm
Jayne Ozanne Director, Ozanne Foundation
Hidayah (LGBTQI+ Muslims)
Ruth Hilton Chair, JAT
Rabia Mirza Director of media, engagement and lobbying, British Muslims for Secular Democracy
Brian Pearce Former Buddhist chaplain to prisons in Wales
Martin Pendergast Centre for the study of Christianity and sexuality
Dawn Savidge Co-director, Affirm
Martin Stears-Handscomb Co-chair, Accepting Evangelicals
Simon Barrow Director, Ekklesia
Melissa Benn Writer and campaigner
Dr Nuala Burgess Chair, Comprehensive Future
Tracey Byrne Chief executive, OneBodyOneFaith
Shaun Dellenty Founder, Inclusion For All
Natasha Devon Mental health campaigner
Martin Doré Chair, Socialist Educational Association
Dr Eleanor Formby Reader in Sociology and Youth Studies, Sheffield Hallam University
Professor Jonathan Glazzard Carnegie School of Education, Leeds Beckett University
John Bolt General secretary, Socialist Educational Association
Mark Jennett Sexuality and gender equality in schools specialist
Naomi Long Leader, Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Loic Menzies Chief executive of the education think tank, LKMco
Alison Ryan Steering committee member, Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education