Michael Gove under pressure over anti-gay sex education

Education Secretary said that the Equality Act does not apply to school programs - allowing religious schools to use the equipment homophobic

Michael Gove, the education secretary, is the center of a growing dispute over how religious schools discuss homosexuality in sex education classes.

The TUC Gove accused of failing in their legal obligations by insisting that the equality laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, do not extend the program.

TUC complained that the current situation sends mixed signals to the playground, because schools are legally obliged to condemn discrimination based on sexual orientation, but without the use of religious materials that equality campaigners claim is homophobic.

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, wrote to Gove, in December expressed concern that a booklet containing "homophobic material" was distributed by an American preacher and speak to students from Catholic schools Roman in the area of ??Lancashire in 2010.

the brochure, "pure manhood: How to become the man God wants you," about a boy dealing with "homosexual attraction" that have been suggested are "in a relationship with patient his father, an inability to relate to other children, or sexual abuse, even. "

The booklet, which states that "scientifically speaking, safe sex is a joke," says that "homosexual acts is disordered as the gender of contraception among heterosexuals. Both events are designed to defeat the purpose of God for natural sex - Babies and unions "

referring to the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination against persons, Barber said: ". Schools have a legal duty to challenge all forms of prejudice, and mine literature at all. "

• Gove But he insists: "The provisions of the Education Equality Act 2010 which prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their protected characteristics (including sexual orientation) does' not extend to the content of curricula materials used. sex education and the relationship, therefore, not subject to anti-discrimination provisions of the law. "
• Gove response has angered the TUC. "After writing to the Secretary of Education to express our concern about the distribution of literature homophobic religious schools, the lack of interest is very alarming," said Barber.

DfE

A spokesman insisted: However, the line shows a gray area in the teaching of sex education "The whole school participates in the promotion of homophobic materials would be acting illegally. . "A review will provide further guidance on what was appropriate for schools to teach was sent into the grass when the last election.

"It would certainly help if there was clarity on what is appropriate for kids of all ages," said Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive of gay rights group. "No Water has not been obscured by people who push the wrong material for sex age, on the one hand and anti-gays religious fundamentalists on the other materials. "

The line comes at the end of a week in which the extraordinary role of religion in society has been under sharp control.
President Equality and Human Rights Commission of Trevor Phillips, said the religious rules should be left "on the door of the temple" and pave the way for the "public law "established by Parliament. Phillips said:" Once you start paying utilities that have implemented under public standards - for example, protection of the child - then to go with the right audience. " Phillips spoke after the Baroness Warsi, a Conservative minister, warned Britain was under threat of a rising tide of "militant secularism".

Find best price for : --Trevor----Gove--