Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn renews calls for LGBTQ-inclusive sex education to be introduced in schools
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has renewed calls for LGBTQ-inclusive sex education to be introduced to the school curriculum.
Appearing on the podcast Homo Sapiens, which is hosted by pop star Will Young and director Chris Sweeney, Corbyn said that sex education in schools needed to reflect modern relationships regardless of sexual preference in order to keep young LGBTQ people safe.
The political figure said: “Sex education should involve same-sex as well as heterosexual relationships – it’s about relationships.
“Too much of it is not about relationships and understanding each other, having respect for each other and what is a genuine relationship and what’s an exploitative relationship; there’s a big difference.”
Corbyn went on to explain that having LGBTQ-inclusive sex education would help to combat unhealthy relationships.
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According to a report by the now closed down charity Broken Rainbow, one in four LGBTQ people will face domestic abuse.
While women are almost twice as likely to be victims of domestic abuse as men, LGBT charity Stonewall says gay men are more vulnerable still as 49 percent of gay and bisexual men in the UK report experiencing at least one incident of domestic abuse from a family member or partner since the age of 16.
“It’s giving young people the confidence to understand that a loving relationship is something to cherish and be proud of.
“An exploitative relationship is not,” Corbyn added.
Host Young then added that a lot of young LGBTQ people were essentially getting their sex education from pornography.
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He said: “That’s very important and it makes me think of pornography.
“I think it’s so rife and people can get… people have phones when they’re younger now and whether you’re heterosexual or gay, bisexual, whatever – people will formulate their opinions on what a relationship is by watching pornography.”
Mr Corbyn added: “A lot of that is violent and exploitative,” Corbyn responded.
The leader of the opposition’s claims come as the new Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, appears to have scrapped plans to introduce LGBTQ-inclusive sex ed that was set out by his predecessor, Justine Greening.
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Greening had launched a review of government guidance on sex and relationship education (SRE) but since Hinds took up his new position last month he has gutted the plans – insisting that he wanted to champion the rights of parents who wish to withdraw their kids from lessons they object to.
It came after faith groups urged him to adopt new rules that block kids from learning about LGBT issues without permission from their parents, and that permit schools to teach being gay is sinful and damaging.
In their submission to the government consultation, lobbying group Christian Concern said: “The concern is that this subject is being used to bring in indoctrination about homosexuality and transgenderism… lifestyles viewed as immoral by the world’s major religions ought not to be promoted as they are likely to conflict with the views of many parents.”
