Letter: Repeal Section 28

Sir: Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 commanded that "A local authority shall not ... promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship."

The majority of the Law Lords has now decided that, in Lord Nicholls' words, where "a stable and permanent sexual relationship between two men or between two women ... exists, it cannot make sense to say that, although a heterosexual partnership can give rise to membership of a family for Rent Act purposes, a homosexual partnership cannot. Where sexual partners are involved, whether heterosexual or homosexual, there is scope for the intimate mutual love and affection and long-term commitment that typically characterise the relationship of husband and wife" ("Gay man wins landmark decision on housing rights", 29 October).

Can the Government please advise whether this judgement can be used for teaching purposes in state schools?

JOHN EEKELAAR

Reader in Family Law

Pembroke College, Oxford