Teachers in the UK are calling for mandatory education about same-sex relationships

The UK is making major strides in both education and acceptance with the teachers’ recent decision to enforce education same-sex relationships in sex ed classes. The National Union of Teachers met in Harrogate (a city about four hours outside of London) this past weekend, and it was during this conference that they made a majority vote toward the shift in education, which will emphasize a “positive portrayal” in presenting same-sex relationships to students. They are hoping that the motion will demystify a lot of pupils’ questions regarding their own sexuality, and finally foster an environment of complete and total acceptance for LGBTQ students.

The statement from the teacher’s union says that “a future government must tackle the embedded homophobia, biphobia and transphobia that exists in schools and create a positive climate of understanding about sexuality and gender fit for the 21st century … This must include a commitment to make it easier to discuss ideas about sexuality and gender so that students and teachers are more confident to identify as LGBT and work in schools without fear of prejudice.”

Sex education is already mandatory in public schools in the UK, and anti-homophobia bullying curriculum has been introduced to the majority of schools as well. But teachers at the conference emphasized that while this was a step in the right direction, they couldn’t truly change the persisting attitudes of homophobia without teaching it straight from the source.

Not only are they hoping that this will make a major effort to curb bullying, but to give LGBTQ students access to information and sex education that they would otherwise not have so easily found on their own. Like any ordinary sex education class, it will cover the basic biologies of sex, as well as emphasize important safety practices for health and wellness. The goal is to equip not just heterosexual students with the tools they need in their pubescent years and beyond, but to be inclusive of every single person coming up through the public education system, regardless of orientation.

“We need education policy that develops curriculum for children and young people that supports the democratic values of a diverse Britain, including LGBT equality,” said Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers.

Here’s hoping that other countries will see just how beneficial and necessary this kind of education is, and we all follow suit.

(Image from here.)