Culture

Question Time attracts controversy for asking if it’s “morally right” to teach children LGBTQ issues

By Matt Moore

30th March 2019

The question attracted groans once it was asked.

Question Time has landed itself in hot water after an audience member questioned whether it was “morally right for 5 year old children to learn about LGBT issues in school?”

The question came following weeks of protests outside Birmingham schools teaching the No Outsiders programme, an initiative that simply aims to teach children about diversity and acceptance.

All of the panellists, including Education Secretary Damian Hinds, Shadow Brexit Minister Jenny Chapman, Next’s Chief Executive Lord Simon Wolfson, MoneyWeek editor Merryn Somerset Webb and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, as well as a vast majority of the audience members who spoke, were in favour of the lessons.

In his answer, Hinds made reference to the LGBTQ-inclusive guidance that was passed this week, saying: “I think it is right, and this is reflected in the new guidance, that during the course of a child’s schooling, they do learn about LGBT+ relationships as part of the diversity of our country.

“That is the type of country that we live in, where there are different types of relationships and you could have another child in your class who has same-sex parents.

“It is much safer to have a child hear about that and discuss that in a safe environment, from a teacher, than it is to pick it up on the internet or from other kids.”

Chapman agreed, saying: “I think it’s quite important that this is happening, and I think it’s about time that we taught our children about healthy friendships and relationships, and the fact that not everybody grows up in the exact same family situation.”

Audience members in agreement with the classes highlighted how questioning whether the lessons were right was questioning whether homosexuality was right, and another pointed out how without the lessons there would be ignorance around LGBTQ issues, and as we all know ignorance breeds hate.

And in one response, an audience member said: I think it’s irresponsible not to be teaching it to five-year-olds, or any age group for that matter, because children, as you’ve already said, may have same-sex parents themselves, same-sex relations, friends or whatever and children need to feel safe and comfortable wherever they are, in the home or the school, wherever they are.

“And that’s part of their security, knowing that the people they love, and who love them, are loved unconditionally irrespective of their sexuality.”

Because of the phrasing of the question, the show created a heated response online, with many questioning why the BBC thought the phrasing was acceptable.

https://twitter.com/JackHarrison/status/1111411029257281536

https://twitter.com/Damian_Barr/status/1111409451200724997

Related: The Economist faces backlash for tweet asking if trans people should be ‘sterilised’