Tristram Hunt: Textbooks that teach homosexuality is a choice are ‘dangerous’ and ‘backward’
Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt has attacked the use of “dangerous” textbooks in British schools that teach homosexuality is a choice.
The textbooks, which also compare homosexuality to murder and stealing, are part of the US-based Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum, which lists over 30 participant UK schools on its website.
Labour MP Tristram Hunt, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, told Pink News: “There is absolutely no place in our schools for these sorts of backward views.
“Labour will not allow these dangerous ideas to go unchallenged. I will be writing to Michael Gove to demand that action is taken.
“If there are schools using these materials in receipt of public funds, then serious questions need to be answered.
The textbooks state: “Some people mistakenly believe that an individual is born a homosexual and his attraction to those of the same sex is normal.
“Because extensive tests have shown that there is no biological difference between homosexuals and others, these tests seem to prove that homosexuality is a learned behaviour.
“The Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin. In Old Testament times, God commanded that homosexuals be put to death.
“Since God never commanded death for normal or acceptable actions, it is as unreasonable to say that homosexuality is normal as it is to say that murder or stealing is normal.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “All independent schools — including those run by Christian Education Europe — must ensure that pupils are taught respect for others of different cultures and beliefs.”
Pupils on the course do not study for GCSEs or A-Levels, and instead work to attain a International Christian Certificate of Education.
Headteacher Brenda Lewis, of ACE King of Kings School in Manchester, said: “The textbooks in isolation only show a very small part of a very large curriculum. It’s a starting point not a finishing point.
“As Christians we believe the Bible and we believe what the Bible says, and it does say a number of those things, but we are not single-issue people and we teach our students to think for themselves and realise there are a vast number of issues.”
