Friday, April 04, 2008

UK: Angry Muslim Parents Force Schools to Shelve Gay Fairytales


Their children were coming home and talking about homosexual relationships, when they hadn't even talked to them about heterosexual relationships yet...

From "Muslims' fury forces schools to shelve anti-homophobia storybooks for 5-year-olds" by Laura Clark, posted 2/2/08 at dailymail.co.uk

Two primary schools have withdrawn storybooks about same-sex relationships after objections from Muslim parents.

Up to 90 gathered at the schools to complain about the books which are aimed at pupils as young as five.

One story, titled King & King, is a fairytale about a prince who turns down three princesses before marrying one of their brothers.

Another named And Tango Makes Three features two male penguins who fall in love at a New York zoo.

Bristol City Council said the two schools had been using the books to ensure they complied with gay rights laws which came into force last April.

They were intended to help prevent homophobic bullying, it said.

But the council has since removed the books from Easton Primary School and Bannerman Road Community School, both in Bristol.

A book and DVD titled That's a Family!, which teaches children about different family set-ups including gay or lesbian parents, has also been withdrawn.

The decision was made to enable the schools to "operate safely" after parents voiced their concerns at meetings.

Around 40 are said to have gathered at Easton to speak to staff and another 50 at Bannerman Road.

Members of the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society said parents were upset at the lack of consultation over the use of the materials.

As much as I hate to say it, I think British and American Christians could learn something from these Muslim parents...

Read the rest of this article.