Liberal Youth Wales campaigners can see an “end in sight” to the homophobic silence in schools.
Last year they took a petition to the National Assembly Petitions Committee, calling for compulsory homophobic bullying guidance in schools. The Petitions Committee will now be writing to the Education Minister to press him for a date on the release of this guidance, which has been promised for the past two years.
Sian Anne Cliff, Communications Officer, said, “It is great news. We’ll have to wait till after the election, but now any new Government in Wales will have to take action on this issue. I am still disappointed it has taken so long to get any action, but the Petitions Committee has been more than helpful. When concerned people can take their worries to the Government and have those worries dealt with, it is a great example of democracy in action that we can be really proud of.”
For two years, Liberal Youth Wales have been campaigning for compulsory homophobic bullying guidance in schools. The figures, they say, speak for themselves. 75% of teenagers bullied for being gay in faith schools, 65% bullied in state schools.
Oliver Townsend, Campaigns Officer, said, “It is a huge issue. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered children should never be terrified of going to school. They should never have to make a choice between their happiness, or their education. This campaign is about changing that. I am delighted that our petition has been dealt with so thoroughly by the Petitions Committee. I know that any new Government in May will be pressed into action by that committee. There is now an end in sight for the thousands of gay people who have been bullied in their schools.”
With many bullied gay teenagers attempting self-harm or suicide, this issue is seen as one of the most important final steps for acceptance of gay people in Wales.
Oliver Townsend finished by calling for all political parties to support the campaign.
“We’re entering the Welsh General Election now. I really hope all four main parties in Wales can rally around these proposals. I am pleased that the Welsh Liberal Democrats were the first party to support this policy, but we hope other parties will join them. It is a simple, easy action to take and it would make an immense difference to the lives of our teenagers. I will be writing to all the political parties, asking them for a commitment to support this policy when elected.”
