SNP back calls for LGBT+ education to tackle homophobia in schools

THE SNP has unanimously passed a motion supporting the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign, which is calling for LGBT+ inclusive education in all Scottish schools.

SNP Youth support TIE at the spring conference.

In the biggest step forward since TIE began, the party will commit to create an education system that is fully inclusive of LGBT+ identities and relationships within the next parliament, in order to promote a “safe, equal and accepting environment for all of Scotland’s young people.”

In proposing the motion, youth and student wings of the party cited statistics used by TIE from Stonewall’s School Report, such as that 1 in 4 LGBT+ youth in Scotland have attempted suicide and over half are self harming.

The TIE campaign have received international support for their cause as they continue to lobby the Scottish Government to ensure that schools have funding available to train teaching staff to tackle homophobic attitudes and behaviours. At the party’s conference, TIE took part in a fringe event alongside the SNP Youth & Students, the EIS and Sexpression, where they shared stories of their encounters with LGBT+ youth who have been affected by bullying across the country and emphasised that the SNP has to do more on LGBT+ issues.

TIE co-founder Jordan Daly said: “This is the biggest step forward in the push for LGBT+ inclusive education yet, and marks a historic turning point as we continue to campaign for an end to prejudice based bullying against LGBT+ school pupils. We look forward to working with the SNP on this issue.”

Rhiannon Spear (25), SNP candidate for Glasgow and convener of SNP Youth, added: “Without inclusive education we are creating a vacuum that will be filled with misinformation. We need to empower young people. That is why I am 100% behind the TIE campaign in calling for more progressive and inclusive education.”

Support for inclusive education has continued to grow; with SNP MP Mhairi Black, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell being the latest to voice their support for the TIE campaign.

Following a recently launched crowdfunding appeal, TIE have managed to kickstart a teacher training initiative - last week, the group paid for three Glasgow schools to train teachers on LGBT+ issues.