Parkfield Community school in Birmingham, which has been at the centre of a row over its LGBT+ equality lessons says that headlines about it stopping lessons is “misleading”.
The school, which was faced with the removal of hundreds of children over plans to introduce LGBT+ relationship and equality lessons, called No Outsider, has said that headlines suggesting it had stopped the lessons was “misleading”. It quoted a headline from The Guardian newspaper.
In a single Tweet, the school, wrote, “We are concerned this headline is misleading. Parent meetings/ workshops are soon to begin and our no outsiders work continue”.
The tweet echoed a letter sent to the parents of children at the school which said,
“Up to the end of this term, we will not be delivering any No Outsiders lessons in our long term year curriculum plan, as this half term has already been blocked for religious education (RE).
“Equality assemblies will continue as normal and our welcoming No Outsiders ethos will be there for all.
The school has now confirmed that they have put the lessons on hold and will, according to The Guardian, “resume only after a full consultation with every parent”.
The letter continued,
“The discussions were a helpful first step and identified the key issues that are concerning parents, including the ethos, the books, the age appropriateness, the lessons and the assemblies. The agreed outcome of the meeting was the need to have a discussion with the school community about the No Outsiders curriculum and how it should be delivered.
According to The Guardian, around 600 children from predominately Muslim families were removed by their parents from a school in Birmingham on Friday in protest.
THEGAYUK has reached out for comment from the school, but has not heard back.
Thirty-years-ago Madonna released one of her most controversial songs ever…
(C) BIGSTOCK
Madonna has taken to Instagram to celebrate the 30th release birthday of ‘Like A Prayer’, one of her most, the singer admits, controversial songs ever.
Speaking about the song which was released in 1989, the icon said, “30 years ago today I released Like a Prayer and made a video that caused so much controversy because I kissed a black saint and danced in front of burning crosses!
“I also made a commercial with PEPSI that was banned because my video was seen as inappropriate.”
Following on from the news that one Birmingham school has stopped its LGBT+ relationships and equality lessons, Section 28 has started trending on Twitter.
So for those who don’t know what Section 28 is here’s a little summary.
What was Section 28?
Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 meant that local authority employees, including school teachers, could not “intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
Section 28 was supported by a number of religious groups including, Salvation Army, the Christian Institute Christian Action Research and Education, the Muslim Council of Britain, and groups within the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
It became law in England, Scotland and Wales on the 24th May 1988 under Margaret Thatcher’s Tory government. Section 28 was repealed in 2003 by the Labour government. The Scottish government was able to repeal this bill in 2000 and was, in fact, one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the new Scottish Parliament.
Why is it trending now?
The Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood, Shabana Mahmood gave a speech at the end of February in which she raised concerns from her constituents that there was no consultation with parents before schools embarked on the No Outsiders campaign in Birmingham, where the ethos of the campaign was to promote LGBT+ equality and to question transphobia and homophobia in primary schools.
It’s vital that schools follow the guidance for teaching #RSE, with parental engagement and proper consideration for pupils’ religion and background. Yesterday, I made this clear to Education ministers in response to a petition signed by 1,763 #Birmingham#Ladywood constituents. pic.twitter.com/M3Whe4SgDs
The school removed the lesson and in a letter to the parents it said,
“Up to the end of this term, we will not be delivering any No Outsiders lessons in our long term year curriculum plan, as this half term has already been blocked for religious education (RE).
“Equality assemblies will continue as normal and our welcoming No Outsiders ethos will be there for all.
The school has now confirmed that they have put the lessons on hold and will, according to The Guardian, “resume only after a full consultation with every parent”.
The letter continued,
“The discussions were a helpful first step and identified the key issues that are concerning parents, including the ethos, the books, the age appropriateness, the lessons and the assemblies. The agreed outcome of the meeting was the need to have a discussion with the school community about the No Outsiders curriculum and how it should be delivered.”
Some parents have argued that their children are “too young” to be learning about same-sex relationships.
One mother, Fatima Shah said,
“We are not a bunch of homophobic mothers. We just feel that some of these lessons are inappropriate. Some of the themes being discussed are very adult and complex and the children are getting confused.
“They need to be allowed to be children rather than having to constantly think about equalities and rights.”
Homophobic, offensive. Amazes me that you can all discriminate freely against our community but you demand acceptance and understanding from everyone else. This breaks my heart. You should be ashamed. Religion is not religion if it is not inclusive, it’s a cult.
Shabana, I am genuinely sad about the position you’ve taken. What I love most about this country is our diversity. We NEED MP’s who reflect our diversity, but along with that, those MP’s must also respect the diversity of others. It’s a great shame you’ve chosen not to do that.
Your suggestion that kids knowing gay people exist is not “age appropriate” is the oldest homophobic trope in the book – smearing gays as predatory and peadophiles. This speech is courting serious bigotry for the sake of pandering to a section of your core vote.
— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) March 4, 2019
There is an appropriate age to learn about the existence of LGBT people, and that age is “from birth”. We fail the next generation of LGBT people, and the generations who were let down by Section 28, if we support the idea parents have a right to demand the erasure of LGBT people https://t.co/99J1dCdpET
Let me tell you about my own gender expression before we go on. I don’t think of myself as a “man” because I don’t really fit into what society expects of its men. When I was a child all I wanted to do was be called a girl, wear high heels, my mum’s dresses and sing Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ on repeat.
I was a Grade A queer/trans kid. As an adult I couldn’t admit that to anyone outside my immediate family. I was so shamed by this behaviour – and bullied mercilessly at school when I chose to wear the white, patterned “girls’” socks instead of the regulation grey socks for boys.
Nowadays, I dress in masculine clothes, I have a boyfriend, I have short hair and people assume that I’m a man and a gay one at that. I enjoy the privileges that, for the most part, that assumed identity affords me. But, it never really feels right when someone refers to me in that way.
That said, I don’t mind if people use the pronouns him/his or he when they refer to me. Although it does jar me if someone calls me a man. Weird.
I also don’t mind it if I’m referred to with female pronouns.
I’m pretty relaxed about the pronouns that are used to describe me.
But for some, words really matter. So here’s some advice to help us all become better allies to our non-binary, gender non-conforming siblings.
It seems that we’ve all got our lives set to transmit only. We need more receiving in our lives. So when someone is telling you something about them, listen.
Someone once wisely told me, “Assumptions are the mother of all fuck-ups” – and they were completely right. How often have you assumed something about a situation only to find that nothing was as you imagined? Pretty often, right?
Your assumptions are based on your own life experience. It doesn’t take into account other people’s experience. So leave your assumptions at the door and again, open your mind.
If a person tells you what their preferred pronoun is, accept it don’t fight it. It’s what they’ve asked you to call them. The decision is effectively out of your hands. It’s the same as when someone tells you their name. You accept it and it becomes part of their identity. Well, pronouns are the same.
Some non-binary, gender fluid and gender non-conforming folks use a number of different pronouns. Some popular ones are: Zim/Zer and Ze, they/them and theirs or even thon, which was actually added to the dictionary in 1964. They as a singular pronoun has been used for centuries.It’s not particularly new, it’s not trend based, it’s just getting a lot of media attention at the moment.
Blue for boys, Pink for girls… gender stereotyping is all so the 1950s and really doesn’t work for today’s society. No one likes living in a predefined box and we don’t live in a black and white world. There’s a whole rainbow out there.
Gender norms and stereotypes, when adhered to, just keeps society attached to a patriarchal system that’s almost impossible to climb and doesn’t work for all of us, particularly LGBT+ people. So lets bin it shall we?
Normalise the conversation surrounding pronouns. Write your preferred pronouns in your social media profiles. As @thalestral says on Twitter, “normalise that shit”.
Also on twitter, stop assuming people’s pronouns based on their profile pic and your binary stereotypes.
Read their profile. Check their pronouns. Don’t assume.
And while you’re there, put your own pronouns in your profile.
THEGAYUK has learned that Twitter could be adding a “hide replies” feature. An innovation that could help anyone who is the target of online or cyberbullying remove hateful messages without deleting crucial evidence for the police.
A hide feature would help users control what they see and when they see it. It could work very similarly to the Turn Off Comments function on YouTube.
It could also allow the primary user to help control the conversation, remove falsehoods or hate from their timeline, before other users jump in on a thread.
Twitter has recently rolled out a number of schemes to help detoxify the app.
If you are a huge theatre fan, love musicals, and worship the ground Stephen Sondheim walks on, then you’ll love Follies.
Playing in its second run in two years at the National Theatre, Follies is true and pure Sondheim. At the ripe age of 88, Sondheim currently has another hit show in the West End – the critically acclaimed and very popular Company. But Follies is a certain kind of musical – a musical that will perhaps only appeal to the die-hard Sondheim musical theatre fan.
Follies lusciously and lavishly tells the story of former Follies girls, in 1971, coming back to their soon to be demolished theatre for a reunion. It is a brilliant idea for a show and is executed to flawless perfection. The women range in different ages and are at various stages in their live, but they will always be Follies girl, past performers of the “Weismann’s Follies” musical revue, that played in that theatre between the World Wars. While the next day the building is going to be demolished to make way for a parking lot, the women have one last night to reminisce about their time as Follies Girls and their younger and more glamorous selves.
The book of the musical, by James Goldman, takes a look at these women through rose-tinted glasses in a story that is all illusion, smoke and mirrors.
And while there is no proper character development, some of the women do get to shine in a cast that appears to be dozens (40 actually). Tracie Bennett smashes the Sondheim classic ‘I’m Still Here’ while Dawn Hope passionately sings ‘Who’s That Woman.’ Janie Dee excels in ‘Could I Leave You’ and Joanna Riding drips with emotion while singing ‘Losing My Mind.’
Yes, Follies is a show that showcases the ladies. And while some of the men (Peter Forbes and his younger self Harry Hepple), and Alexander Hanson, get their moments, Sondheim shows his enthusiasm, appreciation and love for the ladies. For it’s their show, it has and always will be.
Winner of Best Musical Revival at last year’s Olivier Awards, Follies is playing until Saturday, May 11, 2019.
Wade Robson shares his story in the new Channel 4 documentary film, Leaving Neverland, where he accuses the late Michael Jackson, along with James Safechuck, of sexual abuse.
He, along with James Safechuck teamed up with the documentary maker, Dan Reed, to tell their story of alleged abuse against them when they were just children.
In interviews with the documentary maker, Wade, James and their families describe their relationship with Michael Jackson. Wade and James allege that Jackson sexually abused them at his home, Neverland Ranch, in California.
Dan sat down with Wade in Hawaii and interviewed him over a three day period.
How did Wade Robson meet Michael Jackson
Wade Robson was originally from Queensland, Australia and a huge Michael Jackson fan when he won tickets at a dance competition to see Michael on tour, the two met. Wade was around five years old when he took part in the competition.
Is Wade Robson gay?
No Wade doesn’t identify as gay and has married a woman. According to interviews, the alleged abuse he received from Jackson did make him question his sexuality, however, felt confusion as he always had an attraction to women.
“I felt a lot of sexual attraction to women, but I always had that question. Then, later, I was trying to prove my heterosexuality to myself. I was very promiscuous, trying to make sure that I was ‘normal’.”
Is Wade Robson married?
Yes, Wade is married to a woman. Together they have one son.
He, along with Wade Robson teamed up with the documentary maker, Dan Reed, to tell their story of alleged abuse against them when they were just children.
In interviews with the documentary maker, Wade, James and their families describe their relationship with Michael Jackson. Wade and James allege that Jackson sexually abused them at his home, Neverland Ranch, in California.
Dan sat down with James in LA and interviewed him over a two day period.
How did James Safechuck meet Michael Jackson
Michael and James met while they both starred in a Pepsi commercial in the US. When James was growing up he was an actor and took part in occasional projects.
Is James Safechuck gay?
No James Safechuck doesn’t identify as gay and has married a woman. Together they have two children, the first was born in 2010. According to interviews, the birth of his children helped him come to terms with what he alleges happened to him with Jackson and realise that it wasn’t right.
Is James Safechuck married?
Yes James, or Jimmy as he is sometimes referred to as, is married to a woman called Laura Primack. She also took part in the documentary, Leaving Neverland. It’s unclear how long ago they got married, but they do have two children together.
Around 600 children were removed by their parents from a school in Birmingham on Friday in protest of a lesson that helped children understand about LGBT+ life.
The Parkfield Community primary school in Birmingham has cancelled lessons aiming to teach primary school-aged children about same-sex relationships and gender after the parents of around 600 students at the school withdrew their children in protest.
The lesson was the brainchild of Andrew Moffat, who was awarded an MBE for his work in LGBT+ equality through the campaign, No Outsiders, where the ethos was to promote LGBT+ equality and to question transphobia and homophobia in primary schools.
Students were being taught five No Outsiders lessons each school year.
In a letter to parents, the school said, “Up to the end of this term, we will not be delivering any No Outsiders lessons in our long term year curriculum plan, as this half term has already been blocked for religious education (RE).
“Equality assemblies will continue as normal and our welcoming No Outsiders ethos will be there for all.
The school has now confirmed that they have put the lessons on hold and will, according to The Guardian, “resume only after a full consultation with every parent”.
The letter continued, “The discussions were a helpful first step and identified the key issues that are concerning parents, including the ethos, the books, the age appropriateness, the lessons and the assemblies. The agreed outcome of the meeting was the need to have a discussion with the school community about the No Outsiders curriculum and how it should be delivered.”
Some parents have argued that their children are “too young” to be learning about same-sex relationships.
One mother, Fatima Shah said, “We are not a bunch of homophobic mothers. We just feel that some of these lessons are inappropriate. Some of the themes being discussed are very adult and complex and the children are getting confused.
“They need to be allowed to be children rather than having to constantly think about equalities and rights.”
Internet gossip and Celebrity Big Brother star Perez Hilton stuns fans with body transformation pic.
The Celebrity Big Brother star, Perez Hilton has bravely showcased his body on Instagram after embarking on a healthy living routine.
The dad of three, told fans that he had second thoughts about positing the picture because in his mind he had “made no progress” but when he looked back at last week’s photo, he recognised that he had made an improvement.
He wrote, “I almost didn’t post this today because in my mind I’ve made no progress this past week, but then I compares this photo with last Sunday’s and I’m so glad I took this! Even the smallest bit of improvement is a big win!!!!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bujn24pHu5u/
Last week, the world’s most famous Internet gossip, who has recently gone through a hair transplant procedure took a photo of his efforts last week, but admit because of the transplant and family vacays that he had taken two weeks off from the gym.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuRT2tbngGd/
Fans were quick to congratulate Perez on his health-kick, with one saying that they love his attitude, while another wrote, “Looking masterful Daddy!!!”
Another fan added, “You look great Perez! And I always say the older you get the harder it is to get back into shape and at least you are trying! So good for you!”
Another remembered, “U’ve done it before! U can do it again!”
In 2015, Perez revealed a huge weight loss, where he lost an incredible 70 pounds.
The sad passing of Sharon Bottoms Mattes, 48, in January this year shone a spotlight on LGBT+ rights in the 21st century, and how far attitudes and family law have changed abroad and in the UK.
In what was a terrible example of the injustice to same-sex couples and their children is the American 1994 case involving Mattes, who lost custody of her son after the court ruled that she was an unfit mother because she was in a same-sex relationship. The details of this case are as shocking today as they were at the time.
In the UK, societal attitudes towards same-sex parents has changed considerably over the past 25 years. Thank goodness, because this has been both to the benefit of couples, children and the emotional welfare of other family members.
Yet family law is struggling to keep up with what some have deemed to be the ‘modern family’, and unfortunately prejudice and inequality still remains for LGBT+ couples and parents.
Of course, in the last 25 years so much has changed. Civil partnerships were introduced in 2005. This was followed by same-sex marriage in 2014. This granted the same rights as married heterosexuals. This ended the appalling treatment same-sex couples had received. For those in a civil partnership or same- sex marriage who have a child both parents have parental responsibility. Yet there is still inequality that exists.
Since 2005 unmarried couples were given the right to adopt. Equalities legislation passed in 2006 to ensure that there would be no discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation when going through the adoption process.
When it comes to surrogacy, same-sex couples can apply for a parental order if they have their child via a surrogate and one parent is genetically related to the child. If couples are not in a civil partnership or married they must be living as partners in an enduring family relationship if they wish to apply jointly.
Single parents have been able to apply since 3 January 2019. Yet our surrogacy law are dangerously behind when it comes to the needs of modern families, leaving couples vulnerable to exploitation or worse, losing their child.
It is important that family law keeps up with the needs of families today, and continues to progress so LGBT couples and their families hold equal rights.
Linda Lamb, Solicitor and Director at LSL Family Law
