According to government guidance issued in 2000, schools are
required to ensure that all pupils, regardless of sexual
orientation, receive Sex and Relationships Education that is
relevant to them and sensitive to their needs. So why, 12 years
later, is Lucy's experience still typical for LGBT young people at
school in the UK?
In fact, although provision varies widely from school to school,
young people of all sexualities feel they do not receive adequate
SRE. In a survey by the UK Youth Parliament, 61% of boys and 70% of
girls over 17 said they had not received any information about
personal relationships at school.
This appears to contradict the government's stated aim to reduce
rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,
never mind the guidance in relation to "relevant and sensitive" SRE
for all. But under current policy schools do not have to
communicate anything more than the facts of reproduction, which is
usually taught in biology class, and basic information about HIV
and contraception. Hence, Lucy's annual practice with the
condoms.
Broader issues, such as relationships, emotions, choice, consent
and, yes, sexual orientation, may be taught as part of the school's
Personal, Social, Health and Economic education curriculum, but are
not compulsory. Furthermore, although the government estimates that
6% of the population are LGB, schools are not required to recognise
that they may have LGBT pupils, which is a big problem for Lucy and
the many young people like her.
Read the rest of this news feature in the March 2012
issue of DIVA, on sale 2 February
