Homophobia rife in schools, warn teachers at Yorkshire conference

Homophobia is “insidious”, particularly in faith schools, and is affecting both staff and pupils, delegates at the National Union of Teachers (NUT) annual conference in Harrogate heard yesterday.

A resolution debated and passed by the union warned teachers are still facing discrimination in faith schools based on their sexuality, marital status and even race or nationality, and called for an investigation into the issue.

Teachers at the conference heard tales of how homophobia is affecting school life. Deborah Gwynn from St Helens, said that according to a local survey, 40 per cent of teachers have heard pupils calling other pupils homophobic names on a daily basis.

Less than half feel their school rigorously deals with homophobic abuse.

“We have to challenge the use of homophobic language by pupils, no matter how insignificant it seems,” she said.

She said the word “gay” is still being used to describe something “stupid or rubbish”.

Michael Dance, from Redbridge, east London, said he had seen an ambulance arrive to pick up a student who had suffered a panic attack after becoming the victim of homophobic bullying.

Dave Brinson, of the NUT’s executive, said: “Discrimination, intolerance and bigotry have not gone away, they are still there and still need to be challenged.”

He insisted that the motion was not anti-faith schools but added: “There are, however, both faith-based and secular schools who don’t challenge homophobia and prejudice. It’s this we’re challenging through this motion.”

The resolution says that, while faith schools often have an ethos based on their religious beliefs, they must not operate outside employment law.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said after the debate: “It is important that all our schools promote equality, value diversity and implement effective strategies to eradicate homophobia and transphobia.

“While faith schools will clearly want to set an environment which reflects their religious ethos, we need to ensure that the religious and cultural differences of all pupils and staff are recognised and that the values of community cohesion are practised by all schools.

“Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, marital status or religion should have no place in any of our schools.”