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Your support makes all the difference.We are writing to express our concern at the lack of government support for schools undertaking their legal duties under the Equality Act to promote equality and acceptance between people of different protected characteristics.
We urge that robust backing be given in this vital area. We are particularly concerned at the problems some schools and teachers are currently experiencing regarding the promotion of LGBT+ inclusion.
This is currently highlighted by the nature and extent of the organised opposition to some schools' provision of the “No Outsiders” programme. The programme advances inclusion on a variety of grounds, but its provision has triggered orchestrated opposition (inflamed and exploited by outside groups) for simply seeking to teach that LGBT+ people exist and that acceptance of them should be encouraged. Opportunities to provide these and other schools with greater support have been missed and government guidance has been weakly ambiguous at best.
For example, recent advice regarding relationships and sex education (which will become compulsory in all schools in 2020) states that schools are "enabled and encouraged to cover LGBT content [but] if they consider it age appropriate to do so". The phrase “age appropriate” is open to wide interpretation, and is repeated in new guidance for independent schools on meeting their obligation to promote respect between people of different protected characteristics. Statements such as these, combined with half-hearted support for schools that are being attacked, has left many teachers exposed.
The requirement for schools to promote inclusivity between people of different characteristics is a vital part of our society's equality and human rights framework, and helps us to forge a better society in which all may fully contribute. An attack on this framework is ultimately an attack on us all. The government must therefore give schools greater moral and regulatory support in advancing these important duties.
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, chair, British Muslims for Secular Democracy
The Revd Stephen Terry, chair of the Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education
Ruby Almeida, chair of Quest (Pastoral Support for LGBT Catholics)
Christina Baron, General Synod (Bath & Wells) and chair of the General Synod Human Sexuality Group
Iain Dale, broadcaster and political commentator
Dr Maria Exall, chair of the Trades Union Congress LGBT+ Committee
Professor Becky Francis, director, UCL Institute of Education
Rev Ian Howarth, chair of Birmingham Methodist District
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, senior rabbi to Reform Judaism
Professor Sir David King FRS, academic and policy advisor, including former chief scientific advisor to HM government
Dr Omar Khan, director, Runnymede Trust
The Venerable Peter Leonard, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight and Chair, OneBodyOneFaith
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi (Birmingham Synagogue)
Dr Farid Panjwani, associate professor in Religious Education and director, Centre for Research and Evaluation in Muslim Education (CREME)
Philip Pullman CBE, novelist
Khakan Qureshi, founder, Finding A Voice
Professor Alice Roberts, biological anthropologist, author, broadcaster and president of Humanists UK
Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, president of the Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education and minister of Maidenhead Synagogue
Polly Toynbee, journalist and writer
Luke Tryl, director, New Schools Network
The Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham
Elizabeth Arif Fear, founder of Voice of Salaam
Revd Richard Adfield (CofE)
Jeff Beatty, Quaker Values in Education Steering Group member
Crispin Blunt MP
John Bolt, General secretary, Socialist Educational Association
Professor Ted Cantle CBE, chair of the iCoCo Foundation and national community cohesion and inter-cultural relations expert
Revd Roger Cornish (United Reformed Church)
Revd Jim Corrigall, Unitarian and Free Christian minister
Drew Dalton, founder of Report OUT
Shaun Dellenty, founder of Inclusion For All
Revd Marie Dove (Methodist)
Graeme Duncan, chief executive, Right to Succeed
Jonathan Emmett, children's author
Revd Canon Richard Franklin (CofE)
Revd Canon Jane Fraser (CofE), manager of the relationships and sex education charity Bodysense
The Rt Rev David Gillett, former Anglican Bishop of Bolton
Professor A.C. Grayling, philosopher and author
Andy Gregg, chief executive officer of ROTA (Race on the Agenda)
Baroness Harris of Richmond
Savitri Hensman (CofE), equalities adviser in the care sector and writer on Christian social ethics and theology
Ruth Hilton, chair of JAT
Sunny Hundal, journalist and editor
Mark Jennett, sexuality and gender equality in schools specialist
The Very Revd Jeffrey John, dean of St Albans
Revd Richard Jones, associate minister, Hereford Diocese
Professor Steve Jones, geneticist, science writer and broadcaster
Revd Richard Kirker (CofE), LGBTI equality campaigner
Hari Kunzru, novelist and journalist
Revd Anne Lewitt, minister at the Pulborough URC
Naomi Long MLA MEP, leader of the Alliance Party
Matt Mahmood-Ogston, founder and trustee, Naz and Matt Foundation
Dr Irfan Malik, researcher of the Muslim contribution in the First World War
Melian Mansfield, chair, Campaign for State Education
Loic Menzies, chief executive of the Education and Youth ‘think and action-tank’ LKMco
Revd Iain McDonald (United Reformed Church)
Fiona Millar, journalist and education campaigner
Rabia Mirza, Director, British Muslims for Secular Democracy
Dr Zemirah Moffat, Quaker Gender and Sexual Diversity Community
The Very Revd Bertrand Olivier (Anglican)
Brian Pearce, former chair of the Buddhist Council of Wales and Buddhist Chaplain to prisons in Wales
Martin Pendergast, Centre for the Study of Christianity & Sexuality
Revd Tim Richards (United Reformed Church) Mid Somerset Group
Revd Prof. Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland’s professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture Emeritus, University of Oxford
Dr Artemi Sakellariadis, director of the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education
Professor Sue Sanders, chair, SCHOOLS OUT UK
Elizabeth Slade, chief officer, General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
Prof Lord Trevor Smith of Clifton, academic and former vice chancellor
The Lord Soley
Revd Tim Stead (CofE)
Ezra Stripe, Hidayah
Revd Robert Thompson, Vicar of St Mary with All Souls, Kilburn, and St James, West Hampstead
Revd Dr Chris Whitney- Cooper, co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians
Ruth Wilde, national coordinator, Inclusive Church
Revd Claire Wilson (CofE)
Revd Simon Wilson, Heacham, Norfolk (CofE)
The Revd Dr Simon Woodman, minister of the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church
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