Drag queens and LGBT authors should be invited to speak in schools, according to the UK’s biggest teaching union.
In an effort to challenge the “heteronormative culture and curriculum that dominates education”, members of the National Education Union (NEU) voted to support ‘LGBT initiatives’ at its annual conference last week.
Following the motion, the NEU will encourage all schools to set up LGBT+ spaces and clubs.
‘Highly concerning’
Miriam Cates MP said: “It is highly concerning that the NEU is endorsing the exposure of young children to drag queens dressed and performing in a highly sexualised way in the supposed safety of the classroom.
“I can’t believe that most teachers or parents would support this and I would urge the NEU to revisit some basic safeguarding principles.”
Safe Schools Alliance’s Tanya Carter criticised the NEU, saying its “persistence in abandoning established safeguarding the minute they are distracted by glitter and rainbows brings the entire teaching profession into disrepute”.
She added: “This is an insult to our members and all other teachers who work incredibly hard to protect children.”
Accusations
The motion was brought forward by secondary school teacher Shelby Millard, who told delegates that Rishi Sunak “is supporting the far-Right attacks on Drag Queen Storytime”.
She also accused the Prime Minister of “supporting the murder” of transgender people and “saying hate and abuse is fine”.
Millard later apologised “unreservedly” and withdrew the remarks.
‘Gender ideology damages schools children’ say detransitioners
Teachers’ union claims challenging radical gender ideology is ‘transphobic’