Catholic Church say
gay sex lessons
are “outrageous”
Benjamin Cohen,
PinkNews.co.uk from the Web, May 22, 2006
The Catholic Church in Scotland has
condemned the inclusion of gay sex within the syllabus of sex education lessons
in Scotland.
Following the abolition of section 28 in Scotland six years ago, teachers can
now talk freely about gay sex, sexually transmitted diseases and condoms for
safe gay sex.
The Catholic Church in Scotland has branded the inclusion of gay relationships
as “appalling, outrageous and utterly unnecessary".
Shirley Fraser, health improvement program manager for Health Scotland, said:
"Teachers felt they didn't know what to say to pupils about same-sex
relationships. They felt uncomfortable and wanted to be appropriate, not
offensive.”
Ms Fraser added that the current sex education guidelines “did not cover
diversity issues such as same-sex relationships, so rather than make it
heterosexist it will be reflective of the population."
During the abolition of section/ clause 28 in Scotland, Stagecoach founder
organised his own referendum on the issue. Jack Irvine who helped organise
the unofficial vote said that the Scottish executive was “reneging on their
promise not to promote gay sex in schools."
A spokesperson for the Scottish Executive explained that the delivery of sex
education is the responsibility of individual schools in consultation with their
local education authority. “No new guidance to schools is being issued,”
she said. “What NHS Health Scotland is doing is offering training to
schools should they wish it on a range of diversity and equality issues to help
them deliver the SHARE program."
Yusef Azad, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the National AIDS Trust told
PinkNews.co.uk: "We welcome the decision in Scotland to provide training
for teachers in addressing issues around homosexuality in sex and relationships
education. Too often young lesbian, gay and bisexual people feel alienated
by their experience of sex education in school, and do not know where to go for
support and advice.
"This is a step forwards in making schools more inclusive for young gay people
and will help to protect young gay men from the risks of HIV."
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