Labour announce comprehensive plan to stop homophobic bullying in schools

Labour have announced a comprehensive plan to put a stop to homophobic bullying in every school in the country.

Tristram Hunt, Shadow Education Secretary lay out the party’s plan at Little Ilford school in London.  Research published by Stonewall shows that of the estimated 215,000 lesbian gay and bisexual pupils, because of homophobic bullying, 52,000 will miss school, 37,000 will change their future education plans and the school work of 70,000 will suffer.

To address these extremely concerning figures, Labour have developed a clear strategy off the back of the recommendations of a taskforce the party established to look into the issues. This includes:

-Ensuring that all new teachers are trained to deal with homophobic bullying

-Providing support for current to get training on the subject

-Making age appropriate sex and relationships education compulsory in all schools

-Promoting mental health services for young people who have been bullied because of their sexuality

-Creating a best practice ‘toolkit’, which will give schools  across the country resources to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

Hunt will explain that Labour believe schools should have a “zero tolerance approach” to homophobia in all of it’s forms:

“The presence of homophobic bullying in our classrooms, playgrounds and dinner halls is deeply troubling, and it is very real. The use of homophobic language and other forms of homophobic bullying is damaging the life chances of so many young people. It has a daily effect that limits learning, and causes people long term damage. There is no place for it in our society – and never should it be ignored in our schools. Schools have a duty to show a zero tolerance approach to the use of homophobic language and bullying.”

“The legacy of Section 28 – a most pernicious piece of legislation – casts a shadow over our education system, both for those that are new to the schools workforce and for those who worked in schools whilst it was in operation. That is why repealing Section 28 alone, is not enough. We need new training for new and long-standing teachers, and others in the school workforce. Strategies for education, dealing with both prevention and resolution. And we need to act urgently to prevent the plight of homophobic bullying that is damaging the lives and life chances of thousands of pupils.”

The plan is backed by Stonewall, as well as actor and campaigner Charlie Condou. He offered his words of support for Labour’s announcement:

“As a gay man, and as a parent, the tackling of homophobic bullying is obviously something that’s extremely important to me. School is where I want my kids to feel safe, to be nurtured and cared for when I’m not there. We’ve made so many advances for LGBT people over the last few years, but I truly believe that prejudice is learned behaviour and therefore we need to address LGBT issues at an early age. The word gay is still used as an insult in playgrounds across the country and the amount of young people still taking their own lives for being seen as different is quite distressing. I’m so glad that tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying will be a priority for the next Labour government, as always, leaders in the struggle for LGBT equality.”