Protests against equality lessons continue despite ban from school gates

Protesters have today staged their first demonstration against LGBT-inclusive education at a Birmingham primary school since being banned from the school gates.

Birmingham City Council went to court last week to win an injunction to create an exclusion zone around Anderton Park Primary School in Dennis Road, Sparkhill, following weeks of demonstrations.

Parents who disagree with the lessons at the school have moved their campaign to a road nearby, and say they will fight the High Court ruling.

Protesters planned a rally today (Friday 7 June) from 2.30pm outside the banned area.

They said hundreds were expected to attend but in the end only around 40 showed up in the rain, and they were almost outnumbered by national media.

The school uses picture books to teach children about equality, including the fact that some children have two mummies or two daddies.

Campaigners argue four and five is too young to teach children about same sex relationships, they say they want to be consulted and want their religious views to be taken into account.

There were chants of "headteacher, step down" from the protesters while a small group of counter protesters sang the Beatles hit 'All You Need Is Love' in the pouring rain.

The headteacher at the school, Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, says she's grateful for the support from the authorities:

Birmingham City Council’s lawyers made the emergency application for an interim injunction in order to stop protests starting up again when pupils returned to school after half term.