Fury as schools to stock child gay sex book

SCOTTISH schools are set to introduce a controversial novel about the homosexual experiences of a young boy, even though the book is likely to be banned in classrooms south of the Border.

School librarians are being urged by their professional body to stock Strange Boy, the story of a 10-year-old who realises he is gay and has his first sexual experience with a teenage boy.

Librarians want to take advantage of the abolition in Scotland of Clause 28, which banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

But the sexually-explicit children’s novel is highly unlikely to be introduced in English schools, where Clause 28 still applies.

Christian groups have condemned Strange Boy, by Paul Magrs, as "almost pornographic" and urged Scottish schools not to give it library space.

One of Scotland’s teaching unions has also attacked the attempt to introduce the book, saying it was "political correctness gone mad".

However, gay campaign groups have backed the librarians, ridiculing the suggestion that a book can make someone gay and arguing that pupils need to know about homosexuality.

Pressure on schools to stock Strange Boy is coming from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Spokesman Tim Owen said that its members - a quarter of whom are school librarians - have already put the book at the top of their list of new additions. He said: "It is no good patronising young people and drawing a veil over it. We do think this book is a worthwhile addition to school libraries.

"Homosexuality is something which they need to know about and this book will help them understand it. If they have any similar feelings they can relate to this character. It is up to every individual librarian to decide if they want to stock it. After all that is what they are trained to do."

Tino Ferri, of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, said he was appalled by the suggestion that the book should be stocked in all schools.

He said: "Children have enough to deal with when they are growing up rather than confusing them even further with this kind of nonsense.

"I am astounded that anyone would think that this is appropriate for children and it is more political correctness gone mad."

Colin Hart, director of educational charity the Christian Institute, said: "This [book] is almost pornographic. We have to remember that it is possible for a 14-year-old boy to abuse a 10-year-old.

"I have seen the book and I do not think it is at all suitable for a school library. Apart from the sexually explicit scenes, the language is very strong.

"There has to be a limit about what we put in front of our children, and I find this very worrying."

But the book is being championed by gay rights activists who said they will campaign to have it introduced in Scotland.

Peter Harvie, a worker with Glasgow gay support group Phace, said: "No book can turn people gay or make them into something that they are not.

"Young people would benefit from a resource that offers positive images and will help support them when they are coming out or questioning their sexuality."

Ali Jarvis, director of Stonewall Scotland, added: "I believe this is a very well-written book which deals with real-life issues. You can’t hide things from children and you have to let them be aware of other people’s experiences.

"There are plenty of books about heterosexual first love and falling for someone, so I don’t see why this should be treated differently."

Strange Boy tracks the sexual awakening of David, who grows up on a tough housing estate in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in the 1970s.

David, like the author of the book, realises that he is gay at the age of 10.

He begins to have sexual feelings for other boys and soon develops a crush on his 14-year-old next door neighbour with whom he shares an outdoor sexual experience.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive confirmed there was no legislation to prevent the novel from being introduced to schools.

He said: "It is a matter for individual local authorities but there are robust guidelines and procedures in places which advise parental consultation."

Clause 28 - or Section 2a as it was known in Scotland - was abolished in June 2000 in Scotland after a battle that set the Catholic Church and conservative elements in Scotland against the Executive.

The first year in the life of the Scottish parliament was dominated by the row. Repeal of the legislation was forced through by former minister Wendy Alexander.

Alexander was accused of political correctness by opponents of repeal, including the Catholic Church, led by the late Cardinal Thomas Winning, and Brian Souter, the transport tycoon and evangelical Christian.

Souter spent an estimated 2m on his Keep the Clause campaign, which included funding a private referendum in which 87% of those who voted wanted to keep the clause in place.