Mums Protest Outside Birmingham School For 'Promoting Homosexuality' To Kids

[Cherie]

A group of around 20 parents are threatening to remove their children from a primary school with a gay assistant head teacher, after claiming it is “over-promoting LGBT movements”.

Parkfield Community School in Saltley, Birmingham, has been criticised by some parents for piloting a programme called No Outsiders, run by Andrew Moffat MBE, which challenges discrimination, including homophobia, in schools.

Books being read as part of the programme at the 770-pupil school, where 23 nationalities are represented, include Mommy, Mama and Me and King & King – stories about same-sex relationships and marriages.

But furious mum-of-three Fatima Shah has already taken her 10-year-old daughter out of school in protest, and has started a petition to halt the lessons.

She told HuffPost UK: “It’s inappropriate, totally wrong. Children are being told it’s OK to be gay yet 98% of children at this school are Muslim. It’s a Muslim community.

“I’ve taken my daughter out and other parents have too. I’ve been threatened with a fine and told my daughter will be removed from the school register if I continue but I have no choice.”

In 2016 Parkfield Community school was awarded Outstanding status by Ofsted and the No Outsiders scheme was highlighted as a key strength. A year later, Moffat was awarded an MBE for services to equality and diversity in education.

But Shad said Moffat’s programme is against her Islamic beliefs. “My daughter came home and told me am I OK to be a boy? It’s confusing children about sexuality.”

Shah said she would be keeping her daughter at home until “something is done”. The mother said she had been paying for £20-per-hour home tuition instead.

While Shah is against the programme at Parkfield, the 29-year-old insists “gay people should be treated with mutual respect”.

She added: “We believe in fundamental British values and believe gay people should be treated with mutual respect and without prejudice or discrimination just like any other human being.

“We respect the Equality Act and believe it can be implemented without the promotion of homosexuality.

“We all have LGBT friends and are fine with them. Our point is that it is way too early to be teaching kids such sensitive stuff at five years old.”

She said children have a “naive and innocent picture of sexual relationships”, and that it is “inappropriate to teach them what is a gay or straight relationship” at such a young age.

Moffat moved to Parkfield in 2014 after resigning his post at Chilwell Croft Academy in Birmingham after Muslim and Christian parents complained that they did not want their children to “learn that it’s OK to be gay”.

In an interview in 2019 Moffat said he moved to Parkfield because “I specifically wanted to work in a school where there was a strong probability that I would face challenges to my LGBT equality work, so that I could learn from mistakes made in the past and find a way to get it right.”

Today, in a joint statement outlining concerns by parents, Moffat and Hazel Pulley, CEO of Excelsior Multi Academy Trust, said Parkfield Community School “have no plans to change their curriculum and No Outsiders remains an integral part of the drive for excellence”.

They said: “The No Outsiders programme teaches children that everyone is welcome.

“A key element of the No Outsiders ethos is engagement with parents from the start, in order to promote solid foundations of tolerance that are matched both in and outside the school gates.

“Ninety-eight per cent of the children at Parkfield practice the Islamic faith and initially this presented tension within some aspects of No Outsiders, specifically the acceptance of LGBT equality.

“Through parent workshops where resources and discussions were shared in the early stages of the pilot, the school was able to move forward with the support of the parent community.”

They added: “In the last four years the No Outsiders ethos has blossomed as an integral part of the school.”

A few miles down the road from Parkfield school, primary teachers at the Oasis Academy Shortheath in Erdington have been successfully running the No Outsiders classes for two years.

Deputy principal Joe Darnley told HuffPost UK: “It’s been working really well and it’s all about creating an environment where children can safely talk about issues where equality is paramount.

“The scheme teaches mutual respect and exposes bigotry. We are run by a Christian association with mainly white pupils but we had a full consultation with all parents before we began the course.”

He added: “The lessons have helped at least one pupil here who was feeling confused about his sexuality and the No Outsiders space gave him the confidence to share his feelings.”

Councillor Majid Mahmood said that the programme had “clearly upset some parents”, and he said he would be working with “both the school and the parents to help us reach a better understanding.”

He added: “I have never had a problem with the LGBT community and I am proud that Birmingham is an inclusive and tolerant city and there is no place here for homophobia or any other form of discrimination. The best way to reach an understanding on this issue is to talk and I’m determined to work with both the school and the parents on this.”

Local MP Liam Byrne told HuffPost: “Wise schools involve their parents upfront in the development of teaching material, and this is exactly what Parkfield has done every step of the way.

“Birmingham was built by people from all walks of life, coming together to live, love, work and build an amazing community.

“That’s why we believe in ‘No Outsiders’. There are LGBT people of every race, faith and community and it is our responsibility to let these children know that there is nothing wrong with them.”

Leaflet handed out to parents outside Parkfield School

Brothers and sisters, is it OK for your children to be gay?

Are you aware of the resource being used in literacy lessons promoting homosexuality?

Did you know Mr Moffat left his last role because parents believed he had no right coming out to children? They wanted all the lessons containing LGBT to be removed from curriculum.

Did you know that our children are now being taught the very same thing?

Have you asked what your children are being taught? What they are reading?

Please join us in our petition to have the No Outsider removed from the curriculum.

Please help us make a difference to what children are being taught.

Source: Mariam Ahmed

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mums-protest-outside-school-for-promoting-homosexuality-to-their-kids_uk_5c4f0fb0e4b0e1872d45e941

[Cherie]

Surely it is not promoting homosexuality, it is promoting same sex couples as a norm which is what should be happening in schools :think: You can't make children gay but you can change attitudes and schools are a great place to start?

[Niamh.]

It's not a Muslim school though is it? Regardless if alot of Muslims go there

[Liam-]

Bunch of knobheads

[Cherie]

It's not a Muslim school though is it? Regardless if alot of Muslims go there

Nope it is not a Muslim faith school, no matter how many of the children who attend are of the muslim faith, so the school are well within their rights to teach inclusion

[Crimson Dynamo]

this is one of the problems you get by allowing people to arrive in the UK and practice stone age cults they have been brainwashed into believing from other less developed countries.

[bots]

the school is not breaking any laws or even breaking any guidelines. If the parents don't like it they could look to moving from the area and/or going to an alternative school.

[smudgie]

Carry on paying your £20 an hour tuition fees then. :idc:

[arista]

"Please join us in our petition to have the No Outsider removed from the curriculum."

No
I ain't got time
sort out yourself..................

[Livia]

"...after Muslim and Christian parents complained that they did not want their children to “learn that it’s OK to be gay”..."

But it IS okay to be gay. Maybe normal people should be protesting that these protesters are hopelessly out of touch and decades... centuries behind the times.

[Withano]

Sounds like the mothers could do with a few lessons in the school

[Oliver_W]

She told HuffPost UK: “It’s inappropriate, totally wrong. Children are being told it’s OK to be gay yet 98% of children at this school are Muslim. It’s a Muslim community.


Yet it's okay to idolise a "prophet" who consummated marriage with a nine year old?

tbh the assistant head is probably at risk, I don't think he should be sacked for being gay, but he'd probably be safer to work somewhere better.

[Tom4784]

Fatima Shah and everyone else involved in this are **** parents and **** human beings.

You can't 'promote' homosexuality, you either are or you aren't. The only thing you can promote is tolerance and if these hypocritical parents are fine with fairy tales where the prince and the princess live happily every after then they are utter ***** for acting like a similar story between a same sex pairing is somehow unacceptable.

Everyone involved in this is a twat that's using religion to justify their bigotry and I hope they all get done for keeping their kids out of school.

[Cherie]

This is the worst bit for me

eaflet handed out to parents outside Parkfield School

Brothers and sisters, is it OK for your children to be gay?

Are you aware of the resource being used in literacy lessons promoting homosexuality?

Did you know Mr Moffat left his last role because parents believed he had no right coming out to children? They wanted all the lessons containing LGBT to be removed from curriculum.

Did you know that our children are now being taught the very same thing?

Have you asked what your children are being taught? What they are reading?

Please join us in our petition to have the No Outsider removed from the curriculum.

Please help us make a difference to what children are being taught.

[Lostie!]

"I'm not homophobic, I have loads of gay friends BUT..." Silly bigoted twats

[Crimson Dynamo]

They are happy for their own elders and preachers to teach to the children that if they leave Islam then they deserve to die..


you could not make it up


oh wait, they already did

[Twosugars]

Hope the school stands firm and won't be bullied.
On the plus side 20 parents is not that much if the school is 98% Muslim

These 20 say they respect British values. Do they tho? :think:

[Tom4784]

This is the worst bit for me

eaflet handed out to parents outside Parkfield School

Brothers and sisters, is it OK for your children to be gay?

Are you aware of the resource being used in literacy lessons promoting homosexuality?

Did you know Mr Moffat left his last role because parents believed he had no right coming out to children? They wanted all the lessons containing LGBT to be removed from curriculum.

Did you know that our children are now being taught the very same thing?

Have you asked what your children are being taught? What they are reading?

Please join us in our petition to have the No Outsider removed from the curriculum.

Please help us make a difference to what children are being taught.

I just hope none of their kids are gay for their own sakes, it's not an easy thing to be raised in a homophobic environment when you aren't straight.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I just hope none of their kids are gay for their own sakes, it's not an easy thing to be raised in a homophobic environment when you aren't straight.

makes you wonder about the 75 million gay muslims around the world and how they are doing

[Glenn.]

Can we just ban religion please

[Crimson Dynamo]

Can we just ban religion please

amen

[Beso]

Adult men should not be teaching 5 to 10 yr old kids about sex.

[Mokka]

Adult men should not be teaching 5 to 10 yr old kids about sex.

:facepalm:

[Beso]

:facepalm:

What.

[Cherie]

Adult men should not be teaching 5 to 10 yr old kids about sex.

It's nothing to do with sex, its story books where its Mama and Mama and Papa and Papa rather than Mama and Papa

[Dash Darington]

The government should not be engaging in the forced political indoctrination of children. Kids should get their values from their parents, and ultimately choose their own beliefs when they reach adulthood. I wonder how many of you would support forced indoctrination of your children into a values system that is antithetical to your own.

[user104658]

The government should not be engaging in the forced political indoctrination of children. Kids should get their values from their parents, and ultimately choose their own beliefs when they reach adulthood. I wonder how many of you would support forced indoctrination of your children into a values system that is antithetical to your own.

There's a difference between normalising and indoctrinating / promoting, though. I'd sort of agree if it's actively PUSHING it or even pushing "and that's OK!!!" rather than helping children to develop their OWN system of morals... but I have no issue with normalisation (i.e. just including gay characters in stories without fuss, talking about same sex relationships openly etc.)

Hiding a normal part of everyday society (which in this country, homosexual relationships are) from children is more akin to political indoctrination than being open about them, tbh.

[bots]

the government is hardly subjecting school children to enforced political indoctrination. I've never heard such blatant falsehood.

[Cherie]

the government is hardly subjecting school children to enforced political indoctrination. I've never heard such blatant falsehood.

Indeed, this isn't on the curriculum though story books with same sex couples should be in every school if we want the next generation to be more tolerant and accepting

[Mystic Mock]

What's wrong with same sex couples being in story books? As long as there is still a main storyline away from the couple then I don't see the problem.

[Tom4784]

The idea that same sex relationships are somehow lewd or inappropriate for children has always annoyed me. Same sex relationships can be presented just as chaste and age appropriate as heterosexual relationships often are, if you have no issue with kids watching most Disney fairy tales then you can't have an issue with gay relationships being presented as such without being a hypocrite.

[user104658]

To be fair in my experience kids reactions seem to be much more based on other kids a lot of the time anyway and there's only so much you can do. My daughter went from being totally accepting that men could be with men when she was 4 or 5 (we have gay friends and she thought nothing of it), to a worrying little homophobe when she was 6/7, and now she's 9 and can actually understand concepts like romantic relationships and sexuality and is back to thinking nothing of it.

I think maybe there are more fundamental considerations when it comes to understanding why younger kids are confused. They don't really have any concept of love or attraction and their basic concept of what "a couple" is, is "a mummy and a daddy" ... like, people are together SPECIFICALLY for that reason, I honestly don't think they necessarily even get that it's a separate relationship that goes beyond being "the parents". Which I guess contributes to confusion about why two men or two women would be in a relationship. So in theory, the perfect time to be talking about homosexuality being normal would be around the age of 8 when they're starting to develop a concept of what romantic relationships are at all.

I'm not saying there's any harm normalising it for younger kids too I'm just not totally convinced that there's much point or that it makes much difference. They find heterosexual relationships weird and hilarious too :hehe:

[Cherie]

This made the news this evening 600 of the 700 pupils stayed home in protest today :skull:

[Twosugars]

This is state school, they should keep their bigoted religion out of it

[Alf]

This is state school, they should keep their bigoted religion out of itWhen did you turn into Tommy Robinson?

[Underscore]

Fine the parents £60 like you would for all unauthorised absences.

And don't back down.

[Oliver_W]

When did you turn into Tommy Robinson?

I don't think anyone here is daft enough to deny that the religion itself is pretty bigoted, even when most individual muslims are not.

[Beso]

1st question, how do they know he is gay?


2nd question, who runs about at a primary school shouting about their sexually?

[Tom4784]

This made the news this evening 600 of the 700 pupils stayed home in protest today :skull:

Fines! Fines for everyone!

The school should not back down on this, the parents are hateful bigots and if they interrupt their children's education for no good reason then fine them and consider a harsher punishments if they do it again.

Children are not political weapons, it's just a shame these terrible human beings don't realise that.

[Oliver_W]

Fines! Fines for everyone!

The school should not back down on this, the parents are hateful bigots and if they interrupt their children's education for no good reason then fine them and consider a harsher punishments if they do it again.

Children are not political weapons, it's just a shame these terrible human beings don't realise that.

This, pretty much.

One can talk about how "inappropriate" it is until the cows come home, but at the end of the day children's education is more important than them finding out that people can love someone else of the same gender.

[Twosugars]

When did you turn into Tommy Robinson?

it goes for Christians too

The state and its schools are secular and should teach secular values like tolerance.
Next thing they'll want sharia law :fist:

[Alf]

KSo I heard somewhere that the Muslims won this and the School backed Down.

If this was predominantly White mothers, they wouldn't have won, they'd have been called all the bigots, homophobes and far right names in the World. And the school would have definitely not backed down. Just shows the power some people have and the fear they put into people.

[Cherie]

So I heard somewhere that the Muslims won this and the School backed Down.

If this was predominantly White mothers, they wouldn't have won, they'd have been called all the bigots, homophobes and far right names in the World. And the school would have definitely not backed down. Just shows the power have and the fear they put into people.

I will need a link Alf, but if that has happened it is very disappointing indeed.

[Alf]

I will need a link Alf, but if that has happened it is very disappointing indeed.I haven't looked for or seen anything, I just saw a YouTuber mention it in a video.

[Cherie]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/04/birmingham-school-stops-lgbt-lessons-after-parent-protests?CMP=twt_gu


A primary school that taught pupils about homosexuality as part of a programme to challenge homophobia has stopped the lessons after hundreds of children were withdrawn by parents in protest.

Parkfield community school in Saltley, Birmingham, has been the scene of weekly protests over the lessons, which parents claim are promoting gay and transgender lifestyles.

In a letter to parents, the school said: “Up to the end of this term, we will not be delivering any No Outsiders lessons in our long-term year curriculum plan, as this half term has already been blocked for religious education (RE). Equality assemblies will continue as normal and our welcoming No Outsiders ethos will be there for all.”


On Friday about 600 Muslim children, aged between four and 11, were withdrawn from the school for the day, parents said. The school would not confirm the number.


:facepalm: our culture is being dragged back into the 50s we now have another generation being brought up in this country thinking being gay is somehow wrong....

[arista]

It's not a Muslim school though is it? Regardless if alot of Muslims go there


Yes

https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5c4f11c225000031007db96e.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_nou pscale

[Cherie]

I haven't looked for or seen anything, I just saw a YouTuber mention it in a video.

found it, posted it above.... people have had to resign from their jobs from having personal beliefs attached to their religion that they weren't bothering anyone with, this country is crazy

[Alf]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/04/birmingham-school-stops-lgbt-lessons-after-parent-protests?CMP=twt_gu


A primary school that taught pupils about homosexuality as part of a programme to challenge homophobia has stopped the lessons after hundreds of children were withdrawn by parents in protest.

Parkfield community school in Saltley, Birmingham, has been the scene of weekly protests over the lessons, which parents claim are promoting gay and transgender lifestyles.

In a letter to parents, the school said: “Up to the end of this term, we will not be delivering any No Outsiders lessons in our long-term year curriculum plan, as this half term has already been blocked for religious education (RE). Equality assemblies will continue as normal and our welcoming No Outsiders ethos will be there for all.”


On Friday about 600 Muslim children, aged between four and 11, were withdrawn from the school for the day, parents said. The school would not confirm the number.


:facepalm: our culture is being dragged back into the 50s we now have another generation being brought up in this country thinking being gay is somehow wrong....You beat me to it.

[arista]

"our culture is being dragged back into the 50s we now have another generation being brought up in this country thinking being gay is somehow wrong.... "

But if you are Strict Muslim
It is Wrong

[Cherie]

"our culture is being dragged back into the 50s we now have another generation being brought up in this country thinking being gay is somehow wrong.... "

But if you are Strict Muslim
It is Wrong

and if you are a strict Christian you will lose your job or your business for your beliefs but hey ho

[Elliot]

But if you are Strict Muslim
It is Wrong

No! Religion shouldn’t triumph basic human rights, tolerance and acceptance.

[Alf]

and if you are a strict Christian you will lose your job or your business for your beliefs but hey hoMaybe even prison, the Police hate crime team would certainly get involved.

[Liam-]

If these parents what their kids to grow up as bigots and stick to the strict Muslim beliefs that anything not straight is wrong, then send them to a Muslim school and stop pushing their bigotry onto a tolerant nation, **** off.

Shame on the school for backing down, should have just fined them all like they do every other parents who allow their kids to miss school.

[Livia]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/04/birmingham-school-stops-lgbt-lessons-after-parent-protests?CMP=twt_gu


A primary school that taught pupils about homosexuality as part of a programme to challenge homophobia has stopped the lessons after hundreds of children were withdrawn by parents in protest.

Parkfield community school in Saltley, Birmingham, has been the scene of weekly protests over the lessons, which parents claim are promoting gay and transgender lifestyles.

In a letter to parents, the school said: “Up to the end of this term, we will not be delivering any No Outsiders lessons in our long-term year curriculum plan, as this half term has already been blocked for religious education (RE). Equality assemblies will continue as normal and our welcoming No Outsiders ethos will be there for all.”


On Friday about 600 Muslim children, aged between four and 11, were withdrawn from the school for the day, parents said. The school would not confirm the number.


:facepalm: our culture is being dragged back into the 50s we now have another generation being brought up in this country thinking being gay is somehow wrong....


Islam would like to drag us back further than that... they want us back in the dark ages. This is a problem with the Muslim community, while I'd say the majority are moderate, hardworking, decent Muslims, there is a section of their community who are not like us. Women in this country have fought for equality, gay people have fought for acceptance, why are we letting a minority dictate? Because everyone's scared of being called an Islamaphobe.

If we protest hard enough will they stop FGM on their little girls? No.

But they've won this particular battle... and it sucks.

[Alf]

Islam would like to drag us back further than that... they want us back in the dark ages. This is a problem with the Muslim community, while I'd say the majority are moderate, hardworking, decent Muslims, there is a section of their community who are not like us. Women in this country have fought for equality, gay people have fought for acceptance, why are we letting a minority dictate? Because everyone's scared of being called an Islamaphobe.

If we protest hard enough will they stop FGM on their little girls? No.

But they've won this particular battle... and it sucks.I think it might be something more than being called an Islamaphobe they fear.

[Livia]

I think it might be something more than being called an Islamaphobe they fear.

Isn't it a shame in this once-great country.

[GoldHeart]

1st question, how do they know he is gay?


2nd question, who runs about at a primary school shouting about their sexually?

A teacher's sexuality isn't anyone's business as long as he or she is a competent teacher.

But I remember a teacher at my old school telling students he was gay and had a bf And how he loved him . no idea how that discussion happened when he was meant to be teaching.

I don't like anything that's forced , I guess it depends how things are taught and discussed.
Sometimes it's done in a silly way .

[Tom4784]

Disgusting, I'm disgusted with the school for bending to bigots and I hope everyone of those bigots faces fines for their actions.

Utterly ridiculous, schools should not have to bend for religious beliefs that encroach on the rights of others. I just can't with this story. It's ****ing gross and I hope this bites everyone of those parents in the end.

[Livia]

I agree with Dezzy. I would like to see every school in the country be deemed secular. If you want to learn about your own religion, do it in your own time.

[Alf]

Anybody read the two books in question?

I have, they're actually quite boring, certainly no Roald Dahl.

[Cherie]

There was an excellent debate about this on The Big Question on BBC1 this morning, with an all muslim audience including LGBT muslims