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LGBT equality lessons: Parents say 'it's not ok to be gay'

Keerthi Mohan
By Keerthi MohanJul 10, 2019
Keerthi Mohan
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A SECTION of parents gathered outside the gates of Parkfield School on Tuesday (9) to protest the school's decision to reintroduce LGBT equality lessons.

The school announced last week that it was reinstating a modified version of the No Outsiders programme, created by the school's assistant head Andrew Moffatt, from September, after weeks of consultation with parents.

However, some parents are still against the lessons, which they say promotes a message that "being gay is OK.'

Led by parents' spokesperson Jay Hussain, protesters said the school was not respecting their religious beliefs.

"We are not against anyone expressing their sexuality or being homosexual if that's what they want," Hussain was quoted as saying. "We have no issue if Mr Moffat wants to put on a dress, or dance around like a ballet dancer, or put on a skirt, we have no issue. We have an issue with teaching that nonsense to our kids."

He added: "Our beliefs as Muslims come before any legislation.

"We are not against the law - we are just fighting for the right to believe what we believe. The law gives us that right to assert our beliefs and we are going to claim that right if somebody tries to tell us otherwise."

Members of the Parkfield Parents Group took to social media to say they were in no way associated with fresh protests.

Parent Mo Aslam wrote:

Last week, a spokesperson for the school said they were reintroducing the No Outsiders programme and that lessons were structured for each year group.

"As a result of the consultation 'No Outsiders for a Faith Community' has been especially designed for Parkfield Community School acknowledging and respecting the concerns and sensitivity expressed by some parents in the present school community," the spokesperson said.

However, protesting parents say nothing has changed.

"They say they have changed the programme but they have just swapped one book for another," parent Ali Yassir was quoted as saying.

"They have shown me the book, Mummy Mama and Me , it has two mummies. It is confusing. We believe in one man, one wife, not two mummies. We do not believe in that and they are promoting their beliefs.

"Lots of parents feel the same. We are all with him (Hussain) - we are all against the material they teach our children."

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