Scottish Equality Network Policy Co-ordinator Tom French (in the thumbnail picture) raised fears that anti-same sex marriage campaigners intend to use the same sex marriage legislation – due to be read in Holyrood on March the 20th – to revive Section 28. This follows a statement by a leading protest group suggesting the prevention of the discussion of homosexuality in schools in any context other than as a controversial issue, “like abortion”
Scotland for Marriage, a pressure group backed by the Catholic Church and evangelical groups, has said it is “concerned that children will be taught in school sexual health education that marriage can be between two people of the same sex”.
The group says same-sex marriage should be dealt with as a controversial issue like abortion, and that parents should have the right to withdraw children from lessons on the subject.
A briefing on the same-sex marriage consultation by CARE for Scotland, an organisation supporting Scottish Christians, said: “Concerns have been expressed that should so-called same-sex marriage be introduced it is likely that children will taught in school that marriage can be between two people of the same sex… To raise a generation of children with such a subjective view of marriage is a huge social experiment which is likely to result in severely detrimental consequences… Arguably, it may even increase the occurrence of homosexual relationships.”
The briefing added: “The negative consequences for society of rejecting the Christian model as a context within which to raise children are only likely to increase by redefining marriage in the way proposed by the Scottish Government.”
Yesterday, Tom commented: “We are deeply concerned that opponents of same-sex marriage are attempting to reintroduce Section 28-style discrimination back into Scotland’s schools. This would roll back equality and have a damaging effect on young people and the wider education system. “We firmly believe that school should be a welcoming environment for all young people regardless of their sexual orientation or family situation. Schools have a duty of care to their pupils and it would be wrong to allow discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the education system.”
He added: “We are concerned that opponents of same-sex marriage are attempting to reintroduce Section 28 by stealth.”
Brian Souter, the co-owner of Stagecoach who became notorious when he bankrolled the ‘Keep the Clause (28)’ campaign in 2000, has made no comment.
To read the full article form Scotland on Sunday, go here
.To read Tom’s concerns in more detail and/or join the consultation, go here