Gay teacher resigns after parent protest

April 7, 2014

 

A gay assistant head teacher has reportedly resigned after parents complained that they did not want their children to “learn that it’s OK to be gay”. Andrew Moffat, author of Challenging Homophobia in Primary Schools, was targeted by a group of mainly Muslim parents in the dispute at Chilwell Croft Academy, in Birmingham, The Sunday Times reported.

Mr Moffat, who resigned from his post in December and will leave the primary school this month, said some Christian parents had also complained.

In a statement, the school said: “A minority group of parents… objected to some of the resource books being used in literacy lessons with some of the oldest children in the school, which explored relationships with different families. “The objections were primarily voiced by those whose own religion took an opposing stance to homosexuality.”

Mr Moffat, said that “Some Christian and some Muslim parents have told me they don’t want their children learning that it’s OK to be gay. I did come out at school in an assembly after a group of 11-year-olds held up a poster they made, with the heading ‘Gay is good’. It seemed like the right time to let the children know that they knew a gay person. Following my coming out, some parents from different communities complained to the school, but I maintain that my decision was the right one at that time.”

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “If parents are coming from a particular religious group, whether it is Islamic or Christian, and they have a concern at what they might consider the promotion of homosexuality, the school’s position should be made clear to them.”

 

The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gay-birmingham-teacher-resigns-after-parents-complained-that-they-did-not-want-him-to-teach-their-children-9243922.html

The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10749180/Gay-teacher-resigns-after-parent-protest.html

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