Campaign group wants education to be more inclusive

An LGBTI campaigning group has announced a new training scheme to step up efforts to end homophobia in Scottish schools.

In the week marking 16 years since the repeal of the notorious Section 28 , which banned the discussion of homosexuality in schools, the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign outlined its plans to train school staff on LGBTI issues.

The scheme will pilot with two free to attend training days in Glasgow and Edinburgh in October, and will be centred around how teachers can tackle homophobic attitudes and discuss LGBTI issues with their pupils in primary, secondary and additional support needs education.

The course has been created by TIE campaigners and teachers, including John Naples-Campbell, Scott Mowat and Danielle Campbell, who have each been recognised and awarded for their work on equalities education in schools.

We have encountered some worrying trends which must be addressed immediately

The move marks the first time that a training course which is specific to LGBTI issues has been available to educators free of charge and is inclusive of the additional support needs sector.

A TIE spokesperson said: “For a year now, we have been campaigning for the Scottish Government to ensure that all schools are inclusive of LGBTI identities, and while we have considerable political support for our cause - we have encountered some worrying trends which must be addressed immediately.

“Also, as a result of cuts to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) budgets, many schools are struggling to cover the costs of training their staff on LGBTI issues. This is why we have ensured that our course will remain free of charge and will be held out of school hours on Saturdays.”

Attendees at the training course in Glasgow will be welcomed with speeches from human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie and the Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The training courses will be held on the 1 October in Glasgow, and 8 October in Edinburgh.

The announcement comes after party leaders pledged swift action on TIE’s calls for LGBTI inclusive education last week during a Holyrood debate on the Orlando shootings.

The campaign has received support from figureheads including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie, Harry Potter actress Emma Thompson and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.