Shadow Equalities Minister: ‘Absolutely right’ of the government to tackle LGBT bullying

Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, Gloria De Piero, has welcomed a new government initiative to tackle LGBT bullying in secondary schools.

On Thursday, Minister for Women and Equalities, Jo Swinson, launched a project designed to encourage organisations to bid for funding in order to assess policies against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools.

Visiting Bridge Academy in Hackney, east London, Ms Swinson told PinkNews.co.uk: “I think if we had the experience that the children seem to be having at this school then we wouldn’t be seeing the worrying statistics from Stonewall and others about the prevalence of homophobic bullying. Even here these children are aware of ‘gay’ being used as a term of abuse.”

Labour’s shadow minister, Gloria De Piero, said to PinkNews.co.uk: “In the week we mark 10 years since the hateful Section 28 was abolished, it’s absolutely right to tackle the problem of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in our schools and this is a welcome initiative from the government.

“Groups such as Schools Out are already doing important work to teach all our young people to wear their differences with pride and it is right to now build on this.”

Writing exclusively for PinkNews on Monday, Ms De Piero marked the tenth year repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales by saying it was “one of the most important and proudest acts of the Labour Government.”

Section 28 banned the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools.

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