GAY MARRIAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Transcription

1 GAY MARRIAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS The impact of redefining marriage on education

2 Introduction On 22 May, Ireland will vote on a monumental change to the nation s laws and culture. The referendum on introducing same-sex marriage is really a vote on the redefinition of the family. Marriage, as the basis of family life, has special protection under the constitution: The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack. A yes vote on 22 May will mean same-sex marriages will be given the same status as traditional marriages. This will mean the Constitution is effectively saying: The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Same-sex Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack. This amendment will have enormous implications at all levels of society. For example, if the constitutional definition of marriage changes, there will be huge political pressure to make sure the new definition is taught within schools, including primary schools. This has already been seen in other countries: 3

3 In England, laws requiring schools to teach about marriage were virtually ignored by the schools regulator until marriage was redefined. Since redefinition, school inspectors have started asking pupils what they know about same-sex marriage, but not traditional marriage. In 2009, Muslim and Christian parents in Waltham Forest, East London, were threatened with prosecution for withdrawing their children from primary school lessons that used the gay marriage story book, King & King (see pages 6 and 7). The council said the withdrawals were unauthorised absences and that action would be taken against the parents. Widespread impact The redefinition of marriage is a policy proposal with society-wide implications. Its impact will be widespread, because marriage itself is widespread. Marriage is woven into the laws, culture and language of everyday life. This includes what is taught to children by teachers in schools. This report contains extracts from some of the materials that are recommended by public bodies and Stonewall the main UK gay rights group for use in primary schools. They are typical of the kind of materials recommended by gay rights groups in other countries for use with children of this age. In the US state of California, gay marriage was briefly legalised in 2008 following a ruling by the courts. Shortly after, a group of 18 first-grade school children (aged 6 and 7) from San Francisco were taken on a field trip to their teacher s lesbian wedding. Gay marriage was legalised in the US state of Massachusetts in 2004 following a state court ruling. In 2006 two sets of parents took legal action against the school district of their children s elementary school. A teacher in a second-grade class (children aged 7 to 8) had used the King & King storybook, in which a prince marries another prince in a gay wedding. The parents said the book s themes were not appropriate for their children s age, and that using the book without their consent was a violation of their civil rights. But judges in a federal appeal court ruled against the parents and sided with the school. 4 5

4 King & king Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland 6 7

5 King & king & family Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland 8 9

6 Mom and MuM are getting married! Ken Setterington and Alice Priestley The Sissy duckling Harvey Fierstein and Henry Cole 10 11

7 Daddy s roommate Michael Willhoite 12 13

8 Hello, Sailor Ingrid Godon and André Sollie Dad David, Baba Chris and Me Ed Merchant and Rachel Fuller 14 15

9 Josh and jaz have three mums Hedi Argent and Amanda Wood AND TANGO MAKES THREE Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and Henry Cole 16 17

10 daddy, papa, and me Lesléa Newman and Carol Thompson 18 19

11 The family book Todd Parr Long live princess smartypants Babette Cole 20 21

12 Mummy never told me Babette Cole My House Brenna and Vicki Harding and Chris Bray-Cotton 22 23

13 one dad, two dads, brown dad, blue dads Johnny Valentine and Melody Sarecky Spacegirl pukes Katy Watson and Vanda Carter 24 25

14 Mommy, mama, and me Lesléa Newman and Carol Thompson Emma and Meesha my boy a two mum story Kaitlyn Considine and Binny Hobbs 26 27

15 28 C4M.ORG.UK Published in May 2015 Coalition for Marriage Limited, 8 Marshalsea Road, London, SE1 1HL Coalition for Marriage Limited is a Not-for-Profit Company registered in England. Company No