Section 28 anti-gay law was great mistake, says top Tory

 
Anna Davis @_annadavis16 September 2014
WEST END FINAL

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Margaret Thatcher's health minister today apologised for the controversial Section 28 of the Local Government Act as he backed a campaign to make sex education — including lessons on gay relationships — compulsory in schools.

Lord Fowler told the Evening Standard: “We have come a long way. It [Section 28] was a great mistake and I think it’s now recognised as a great mistake and I would apologise for it. It was totally misjudged.”

Lord Fowler was part of the Eighties Government that brought in the ban on schools from promoting homosexuality as a “normal family relationship”. The law was repealed in 2003.

He has signed a letter calling for sex education to be made statutory and suitable for both heterosexual and homosexual students.

The letter, written by gay rights campaigners, warned that children will get their sex education from internet pornography unless they are taught it by qualified teachers.

Lord Fowler, who was behind the Don’t Die Of Ignorance Aids information campaign in the Eighties, said properly taught school lessons could “torpedo inaccurate and sensationalised information” children come across online.

Cliff Joannou, editor of QX magazine, who devised the campaign, emphasised that lessons would be ‘age appropriate.’

He added: “It’s shocking that in the 21st century schools are still not required to give children and teenagers the education they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships.

"In addition, omitting LGBTI relationships from any SRE (sex and relationships education) means that too many children and teenagers grow up feeling further alienated by society and seek out alternative answers to basic questions. The education system has a responsibility to prepare children and teenagers for life in the real world. It is currently failing in that duty.”

The Liberal Democrats announced last month that all children aged seven and above should be given sex education.

A spokeswoman for the department for education said: “We agree good quality relationship education is an important part of preparing young people for life in modern Britain. That is why we are committed to working with schools and other experts to ensure that young people are receiving age appropriate information that allows them to make informed choices and stay safe.”

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