Twenty years ago, a bad book (Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin) depicting a little girl in bed with two naked men created a furore. The resultant legislation set back gay rights by more than a decade and made teachers fearful of answering questions about sexual orientation.
Thanks to the present government, Section 28 is now history. Current sex education guidance requires teachers to deal honestly and sensitively with questions about homosexuality and to tackle homophobic bullying. Sensibly, it also requires heads and governors to liaise with parents to ensure unsuitable materials are not used in sex education classes. Progress indeed. But there is still a way to go before homosexuality is fully accepted in schools. That time will only come when gay and lesbian teachers do not have to conceal their sexuality at work.
