GALHA PRESS RELEASE.

HOMOPHOBIA FEARS IN STATE FUNDED ACADEMY FAITH SCHOOLS.

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has called upon Children, Schools and Family Secretary, Ed Balls to investigate reports that a “section 28” style prohibition on the “promotion” of homosexuality is being enforced in state funded “academy” schools sponsored by the Christian organisation Oasis Community Learning.

In the letter to Mr Balls, GALHA Secretary David Christmas has said that members of GALHA have been “disturbed” that Oasis which is the sponsor of academies such as Mayfield Academy has a sex and relationships education policy that states “The Oasis Community Learning Board will not permit the promotion of homosexuality”.

Mr Christmas praised the Labour government’s repeal of Section 28, and the protection from discrimination for LGBT people in the provision of goods, facilities and services they had introduced, and he concluded “We hope that you are as concerned as we are to ensure that that homophobia is given no quarter in our education system. We look forward to hearing that you will investigate these allegations and if they are found to be correct, take action to reverse this policy of an organisation which holds a government contract for the provision of schools”.

Concern has also been expressed that Stagecoach boss Brian Souter, who funded a campaign against the repeal of Section 28, is believed to have provided funding for Oasis Community Learning.

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GALHA-www.galha.org.uk 0792 1188329

^{GALHA provides a voice for the many non religious in the LGBT community in the United Kingdom and elsewhere and promotes a rational approach to LGBT Rights as human rights. For its 30th Anniversary in 2009 GALHA is holding a series of special public meetings and events including an exhibition of its work in Central London.}

^{www.galha.org  0792 1188329.}