Inclusive education

Every young person, including those who are LGBTQ+, needs to be, and feel, safe and seen at school. We cannot allow another generation to grow up with the invisibility, silence and discrimination that so many in the LGBTQ+ community felt in the past.

That means high quality relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), as well as excellent pastoral help and support whenever they need it, including relating to issues on sexual orientation and gender.

Section 28 and Stonewall’s history

Stonewall was founded one year to the day after Section 28 became law. Section 28 of the Local Government Act was a piece of legislation that banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local councils across Britain, leading to a total suppression of LGBTQ+ identities in schools.

Largely thanks to Stonewall’s campaigns, Section 28 was repealed in Scotland in 2000, and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2003.

Despite great strides, we have seen concerning indications from previous Governments that this progress may be reversing.

It’s vital that LGBTQ+ young people feel welcome and safe at school, are prepared and informed to make decisions about their futures and have a good understanding of safe and healthy relationships.

We know that there is still a long way to go before LGBTQ+ young people are fully safe and supported at school:

43% of LGBT+ school students have been bullied compared to 21% of non-LGBT+ students. 1
School is the main source of information about consent for nearly half of those surveyed (47%) and healthy relationships a third of those surveyed (32%). But for learning about LGBTQ+ issues, nearly one third of young people are more likely to turn to social media (30%). 2
Half of lesbian and gay parents (48%) worry their child will be bullied because they have LGBT+ parents. 3

Against this backdrop, teachers need strong guidance, training and high-quality teaching materials that include LGBTQ+ content.

Only then can they effectively support LGBTQ+ students and teach a curriculum that reflects the world we live in. Many pupils will have close family or friends who are LGBTQ+, or be part of the community themselves.

Ensuring young people see themselves, and those they love, positively reflected in curriculum that encourages equality and respect for others will help give them knowledge and skills they need in their lives now and in the future.

Policy updates

RSHE guidance

RSHE Guidance is statutory guidance that is reviewed every three years. The most recent guidance was produced in 2019. The Conservative government produced a draft of their updated guidance and launched a consultation on it in May 2024.

The Labour government published its updated guidance on 15 July 2025 – and schools will need to follow the guidance from 1 September 2026.

As well as continuing to work with government to influence their support for all LGBTQ+ people, we will be working with the Proud Trust and other experts in RSHE to provide further support for teachers. This will help them develop and deliver a curriculum that helps all children and young people to grow up with the confidence to navigate life in the 21st century.

If you would like to help fund this work, please consider donating today.

References

Just Like Us, Growing up LGBT+ Report, 2021.
Polling conducted by the Sex Education Forum in 2024.
Just Like Us, LGBT+ Parents Report, 2024.