Evangelicals Now
Christian news worldwide
magnifying glass Search archives
home Home check the archives Archives Subscribe Subscriptions Advertising Information & booking of classifieds Adverts Find a local evangelical Church Find a church for the search engines and extremely curious! About us Contact us Site Map
Printable
Version

Does he listen to anyone?

The fight to keep Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 continues, despite stubborn resistance from the Government...

The past weeks have seen ground-breaking developments in the battle to keep the law that bans local authorities from promoting homosexuality. The Government, however, remains committed to repeal.

In Scotland, the first ever privately-funded referendum resulted in huge support for keeping Section 28. Over a million returned ballot papers and 87% of the polls respondents voted to retain the law - more than voted for Labour in the Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, the first ever legal action against a local authority for breaking Section 28 has begun. Nurse and committed Christian Sheena Strain, says her council tax was being used by Glasgow City Council to promote homosexuality. The Christian Institute is supporting her and her husband in their stand. A full hearing is expected to start in early July.

Fierce pressure

These significant developments send a clear message to the Government that there is strong public support for keeping Section 28. The Government, both North and South of the border has faced fierce pressure to make concessions.

The Scottish executive had consistently refused to introduce statutory guidance for what should be taught in schools. This was crucially different from the situation in England and Wales where school governors have a legal veto over sex education. But in an astonishing U-turn, the executive has announced that there will be a legal framework on how sex education should be taught.

Section 28 is set to be repealed in Scotland from late July. Campaigners have vowed to continue to pressurise the executive for statutory teaching guidance which focuses on marriage.

Compromise rejected

There is, however, a chance of blocking repeal in England and Wales. The House of Lords has already rejected plans to remove Section 28. It has also blocked a compromise amendment which promoted marriage in schools, along with 'stable relationships' (including homosexual unions).

Given the failure of this attempted compromise, the Government has introduced another amendment to The Learning & Skills Bill, which it hopes will win over peers who oppose repeal. The Education Secretary, David Blunkett, has proposed that sex education materials must be appropriate, having regard to the religion and culture of the pupils. Materials produced by NHS bodies are included in the proposal. This is a significant concession, because Section 28 only covers local authorities and not health authorities, who produce some of the most worrying materials.

The Learning & Skills Bill, and The Local Government Bill (which contains the planned repeal of Section 28), are both expected to come before the Lords in July. The Christian Institute says that the best possible outcome would be the acceptance of Mr. Blunkett's amendment, and the continued blocking of Section 28.

However, the Government has since introduced 19 more Labour peers into the Lords. The Christian Institute asks Please pray for Baroness Young and other peers who oppose repeal, that they may have courage and wisdom as they fight to keep Section 28. It is still appropriate to write to the House of Lords expressing your concern.

Mike Judge