Gay UK Teacher Resigns After Muslim Parents Complain

A gay assistant head teacher in the UK has resigned under pressure from mostly Muslim parents, who said that they didn't want their kids to "learn that it's okay to be gay."

As reported in the UK Independent, Andrew Moffat, author of the book "Challenging Homophobia in Primary Schools," resigned from his post as a teacher at the Chilwell Croft Academy in Birmingham in December, and will leave the school this month.

Moffat's books have been used in literacy lessons for 10- and 11-year-olds at Chilwell Croft and other schools. The school said, in a statement, that, "a minority group of parents objected to some of the resource books being used in literacy lessons with some of the oldest children in the school, which explored relationships with different families. Objections were primarily voiced by those whose own religion took an opposing stance to homosexuality."

This included Muslims and some Christians, to which Moffat told The Sunday Times, "they don't want their children learning that it's OK to be gay."

Moffat said that he did come out in a school assembly after a group of 11-year-olds at a school assembly held up a "Gay is Good" poster. "It seemed like the right time to let the children know that they knew a gay person. Following coming out, some parents from different communities complained to the school, but I maintain that my decision was the right one at that time."

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "If parents are coming from a particular religious group, whether it is Islamic or Christian, and they have a concern at what they might consider the promotion of homosexuality, the school's position should be made clear to them."

Some suggested that the situation is part of the controversy around a dozen Birmingham schools under investigation by the Department for Education over the introduction of Muslim practices.

The Daily Mail reports that some teachers were concerned over a letter circulated last month referring to a "Trojan horse" plot for Muslim extremists to take over the running of Birmingham schools. But Moffat said he didn't think that was the case.