LGBT teaching should be done in the home, says Christian campaigner

A Christian campaigner has defended parents protesting at the school gates over controversial LGBT lessons.

Susan Mason, a Christian and mother of one, is behind the new campaign website called Schoolgatecampaign.com.

She and other volunteers have been handing out leaflets at schools in the home counties outlining their concerns over the lessons, which have been the source of protests in Birmingham.

She said that the teaching of LGBT issues should be left to families.

She told The Times: "There is a small, very vocal minority being listened to by the government — and everyone else is being ignored. I think that LGBT teaching should be discussed in the home . . . this role is being taken away by the state."

Her comments came in response to a letter from 80 MPs published in the Sunday Times calling on the Government to take action to end the school protests.

"The protests outside schools need to end, and the best way to achieve that is for the government to be absolutely clear on what will be taught," the letter said.

"At the moment it is far from clear for many parents. The government and the Department for Education have been slow to respond to the misinformation being promulgated among many of our communities by those seeking to undermine relationships education in primary schools.

"If unchecked, the problem will grow, damaging our schools and communities and weakening the recent advancement of equal rights in our country."

The 'No Outsiders' programme triggered protests by Muslim and some Christian parents outside Parkfield Community School in Birmingham. 

Hundreds of school children were withdrawn by their parents from the lessons, which are designed to teach about the Equality Act.

The programme was temporarily suspended at Easter but, following a consultation with parents, is to be reintroduced in September in a modified format that takes faith into consideration.

However, last Friday 350 children were withdrawn from the school again over the continued use of picture books to teach young children that same-sex relationships are normal.

Elsewhere in Birmingham, protests were held outside Anderton Park Primary in Birmingham before the High Court imposed a ban in the immediate vicinity of the school. 

Rob Kelsall, from the National Association of Head Teachers, told The Times that the union has been contacted by at least 70 schools across England in relation to parents trying to stop the lessons.

Relationships and sex education classes that incorporate teaching on LGBT relationships are to become mandatory in schools across England from 2020. 

The Christian Institute, Christian Concern, and the Coalition for Marriage have all strongly criticised the move. 

News
The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens
The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens

Seventy years ago, in February 1956, the BBC aired the mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth”, which was the first filming of the life of Jesus to be created for television. This is the story …

Christians mobilised to oppose extreme abortion law changes
Christians mobilised to oppose extreme abortion law changes

Christians are being asked to urge peers to support amendments tabled by Baronesses Monckton and Stroud.

Thousands of Christians return to churches in north-east Nigeria despite years of terror
Thousands of Christians return to churches in north-east Nigeria despite years of terror

The faithful are returning “in their thousands, not hundreds” despite more than a decade of brutal violence.

Trump is '100 per cent' more spiritual after assassination attempt, says pastor friend
Trump is '100 per cent' more spiritual after assassination attempt, says pastor friend

Trump's pastor and friend Mark Burns said the US President knows "the hand of God' was on him when he survived the 2024 assassination attempt.