New research shows some teachers uncomfortable with teaching children about LGBTQ+ issues

  • Video report by Kevin Ashford

New research by the young people's charity Just Like Us has found that only a third of teachers described themselves as completely comfortable teaching LGBTQ+ topics.

Since the abolishment of Section 28 eighteen years ago schools have been required to cover the topic as part of the national curriculum.

Just Like Us has said that teachers who aren't happy discussing the issues mean that youngsters can still find it "unacceptable tough" growing up LGBTQ+.

Section 28 banned schools and local authorities from "promoting homosexuality".

Dominic Arnall, from the charity, believes that the feelings in teachers may be a hangover from Section 28.

He told ITV Calendar: "Section 28 was only abolished in 2003, so there were people who were in the teaching profession then who were told they must not talk about LGBT inclusion and now they're being told they must talk about LGBT inclusion.

"There hasn't really been much of a cultural shift to get them from one place to the other.

  • Watch Dominic's full interview with Duncan Wood

Andrew Gamez-Heath from Newark in Nottinghamshire works for a sexual health charity in Lincolnshire.

Andrew left school the year before section 28 was overturned - he says more discussion would have made a huge difference to people like him who identify as LGBT+.

He said: "If there had been that there, people would have had more chance to speak about it. I think it would have helped put more people at ease, people would have felt more comfortable.

"So it might have helped as well - it definitely would have helped people come out. You know, there are so many people that look back at the time at school and they were scared the whole time."

Jeremy Scott, a headteacher, said: "These things are always difficult. There are always challenges around discussions around diversity because you're tapping into a whole range of opinions.

"Some of them are very, you know, embedded in history and in, you know, in different opinions.so yes, it's very difficult. But education is difficult. Learning is difficult. It's a challenge. And so that's not something we should ever shy away from."

Campaigners say not discussing the issues can leave LGBT+ pupils feeling isolated - and with a sense that they don't belong in the classroom.

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