A new study by young people’s charity Just Like Us spoke to some 7,000 teachers about LGBTQ+ topics earlier this month (Picture: Just Like Us / Getty Images)
A third of teachers say faith is a barrier to discussing LGBTQ+ topics in schools.
A new study of more than 7,000 teachers by young people’s charity Just Like Us found in faith schools these numbers were higher, with 46% of teachers thinking there are limitations compared to 25% at non-faith schools.
Milly, who lives in Salford and is an ambassador for the charity, said: ‘Growing up as a bisexual Christian, I was fortunate enough to have the support of my friends and family from the moment I came out. Unfortunately, the time before I came out was a bit more difficult.
‘I was 12 years old when I realised I wasn’t straight, but at this age, I didn’t know what bisexual was.
‘I was confused, slightly frightened, and ultimately repressed it for three years until my friend, to my everlasting gratitude, explained some LGBTQ+ topics to me.
‘Part of the problem was that at my Church of England primary school, the LGBTQ+ community wasn’t ever discussed.’
Primary school teachers were more likely to agree religion is barrier in the survey, which was carried our earlier in February by the Teacher Tapp app.
Some 46% of teachers at faith schools think religion is a barrier to discussing LGBTQ+ topics, compared to 25% at non-faith schools (Picture: PA)
The research was released in the same period as LGBTQ+ History Month.
Some 36% said it was always or sometimes an issue, compared to just 24% of secondary school teachers.
Results in faith schools versus non-faith schools were similar across primary and secondary level, but teachers appeared to have more concerns for younger age groups.
Jamie, a non-binary, bisexual Anglican who grew up in the East of England, said: :I was definitely more apprehensive to come out in a faith community because of some stereotypes about Christianity.
‘I didn’t have any role models [who were] LGBTQ+ and of faith, and I assumed you couldn’t be both at the same time.
‘I was struggling with my own identity, but when I saw people in church come out as allies to LGBTQ+ people, it gave me the confidence to come out.’
February is LGBTQ+ History Month (Picture: PA)
Just Like Us recognises that faith is very important to some LGBTQ+ people, so has launched a new series of inclusive resources for Catholic, Anglican, Muslim and Jewish schools.
They include assemblies and video resources for primary and secondary faith schools, and can be accessed by those who sign up for the charity’s School Diversity Week, which will take place from June 26 to 30 this year.
George White, a transgender man who works at a Catholic secondary school in Leicester, thinks faith should not be a barrier to talking about LGBTQ+.
The RE teacher told Metro.co.uk: ‘I am a Catholic and the word “Catholic” means universal.
‘I believe that all human beings are made in the image of God and as a result we should all be universally respected in our diversity.
Transgender teacher George White thinks religion, sexuality and gender can coexist happily in a ‘good faith’ (Picture: Just Like Us)
‘The official Catholic teaching regarding LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic Church is found in the Catechism (2358): “[They] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”
‘When we have this teaching in mind, I believe the Catholic faith gives a very clear indication that LGBTQ+ inclusion is a necessary part of good faith and there is no conflict in welcoming LGBTQ+ people to the call to be part of the universal Church.’
Earlier this month Pope Francis described the criminalisation of homosexuality as an ‘injustice’ and denounced anti-gay laws.
People with ‘homosexual tendencies’ are children of God and should be welcomed by the church, the Catholic leader said.
Interestingly, the survey found the more experienced a teacher is, the less likely they are to see faith as a barrier to LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools. Only 3% of headteachers thought this.
Earlier this month Pope Francis described the criminalisation of homosexuality as an ‘injustice’ (Picture: AP)
Other young LGBTQ+ people said they have learned over time how their sexuality or gender sits alongside their faith.
Rayyan, who is queer, Muslim and went to school in London, said: ‘When growing up, I was told faith was something that was incompatible with different identities, and I was too afraid to explore who I am because of that.
‘Now I know that faith is what I make it, which is something to be accepting of diversity… One thing that I learnt is that a relationship with faith and God is personal – no one has the right to judge you.’
Guidance on the government website states schools must comply with the Equality Act 2010, though faith schools may teach their religion’s perspective on relationships. Balanced debate should take place about issues which are considered ‘contentious’.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: ‘The statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education applies to all schools and is clear that secondary pupils should be taught the facts and the law about sex and sexuality. Additionally, in secondary school, there should be an equal opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships.’
Amy Ashenden, interim CEO of Just Like Us, said: ‘Our research shows that a third of teachers feel that faith can be a barrier to LGBTQ+ inclusion, but this is most likely because there have never been enough LGBTQ+ and faith specific school resources needed to even broach this topic. We’ve launched this new series of resources to change that.
‘When it comes to a lack of LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools, it is so rarely about willingness but actually about whether teachers have access to the right resources that suit their school that enable them to get started.
‘We work with so many faith schools who are really fantastic at LGBTQ+ inclusion, such as St Stephen’s CofE Primary School which won an award for their School Diversity Week celebrations, and know many more are keen to show their support.
‘We know faith is really important to so many LGBTQ+ people, and regardless of who you are, it’s vital that we all learn about the diversity of the world around us and how to celebrate each other’s differences.’
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‘Part of the problem was that at my Church of England primary school, the LGBTQ+ community wasn’t ever discussed.’
