CAMPAIGNERS calling for LGBTI education to be made a statutory requirement in Scottish schools are to present their case to the Scottish parliament today.
Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson, from the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign will give evidence to the Public Petitions Committee at Holyrood.
The duo, from Cumbernauld, will tell the panel about experiences members of the LGBTI community from all over Scotland have had, including those of homophobia and bullying.
They will call for all schools in Scotland to introduce education on issues affecting the LGBTI community, and discuss the need to prioritise improved teacher training on the topic.
TIE founder Jordan Daly, 20, a student at Glasgow University, said: “There are some deeply shocking statistics surrounding this issue - currently, we have one in four LGBTI+ pupils attempting suicide as a result of homophobic bullying.
"This is a national disgrace.
"We hope that the MSPs will acknowledge that the education system - as it is currently - is very much failing LGBTI+ pupils.”
Fellow founder Liam Stevenson, 37, said: “We are very encouraged that the committee want to discuss the issues that we have consistently raised throughout our campaign, and we welcome the opportunity to present our evidence to them.”
The campaign has gathered support from a range of prominent Scottish figures including most recently human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar and the SNP Trade Union Group.
Aamer Anwar said: "For me, there should be no hierarchies in the fight against discrimination, they are all equally valid.
"The key to creating a 21st Century Scotland society free from racism, sexism and homophobia is the education of our young people so I would urge everyone to support this campaign.”
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