Parents should not be able to withdraw children from LGBT lessons, survey finds

Parents should not be able to withdraw their children from lessons about LGBT relationships, according to a new survey by Leeds Beckett University.

88 per cent of the 366 parents and teachers surveyed did not agree that parents should have a right to withdraw their children from lessons which teach children about LGBT people.

The majority (94%) felt that it was important that schools teach children about LGBT identities.

The same proportion (94%) felt that schools had a responsibility to promote LGBT inclusion (this is not the same as promoting a lifestyle).

According to the survey, 88% agreed or strongly agreed that schools were not promoting a sexual orientation or gender identity through teaching children about LGBT people and relationships, indicating that respondents understood that the role of the school was to raise awareness that different types of identities and relationships exist.

Respondents were less confident about teaching children about different kinds of identities from the age of four.

Seventy per cent agreed that “schools should teach children about different kinds of relationships from the age of four”, while 73 per cent agreed that “schools should teach same sex-marriage from the age of four”.

Only 50% of respondents agreed that “schools should teach children about transgender identities from the age of four”.

Survey conductors Professor Jonathan Glazzard and Samuel Stones, said: “It is possible that respondents feel that young children need to be protected from learning about LGBT identities and relationships, either because they feel that the content will cover sex or because they believe that young children are easily influenced.

“This raises some interesting issues. Firstly, some children at the age of four have same-sex parents.

“They are aware of same-sex relationships and they may have brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles in their family who identity as LGBT.

“If these identities are not visible in the school curriculum they can start to feel that their lives are not reflected in the school.

“Secondly, it is interesting to note that there is divided opinion on the teaching of same-sex marriage, despite the fact that in the early years children learn about heterosexual relationships through topics on ‘family’ and role-plays of mock straight weddings.

“Why is it acceptable to teach children about heterosexual relationships and not about LGBT relationships and identities?"