A gay teacher who fought back against advice to keep his sexuality secret by coming out in front of his whole school last year has set up a network to encourage other LGBT teachers to do the same.

Daniel Gray will launch the initiative, LGBTed, next weekend at an event where more than 100 teachers, school leaders and other educationalists will share advice on being gay or trans role models in schools. It is being supported by Nick Gibb, the schools minister, who came out to his family as gay three years ago having been in a relationship with his partner, now husband, for 29 years.

At the event, which will coincide with the 30th anniversary of section 28, the notorious piece of legislation that banned local authorities from “promoting homosexuality”, teachers will receive training in being LGBT advocates and tackling homophobia.

“The aim is to be the role models we needed when we were at school,” said Gray, who co-founded LGBTed to provide support to teachers. “I remember being at school during section 28 and I remember how horrible it was to be bullied the way that I was. I was told by my teachers it’s just something that you have to deal with.” Read more via Guardian