Homosexuality comments could be sign of extremism, says Education Secretary

Children who express negative attitudes about homosexuality could be potential “extremists”, the education secretary has suggested.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about new guidance for schools on tackling radicalisation, Nicky Morgan was pressed for a concrete example of what might constitute a warning sign of extremist behaviour.

She volunteered the issue of attitudes toward homosexuality, noting: “ISIL are extremely intolerant of homosexuality.” Her response prompted presenter Justin Webb to interrupt and ask about a child who said that homosexuality is “evil”, “wrong” or that they hated it.

Mrs Morgan said such comments could trigger concern amongst teachers and might lead to the incident being discussed with senior school staff and even social workers or the police.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, questioned whether the Christian teaching about marriage and sexual ethics would now be labelled as an “extremist view that needs to be monitored and punished.”

“We are on the verge of a sinister new era of 'thought-policing' in our schools,” she went on to suggest.

The guidance for schools has been published in light of new responsibilities to tackle “extremism” delineated in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.

The Act was rushed through Parliament in the months before the General Election. During its passage, deep concerns were raised about the challengeit posed to freedom of expression.

Responding to the Education Secretary’s recent comments, Andrea Williams stated:

“There is a wide diversity of viewpoints on homosexuality in our society. Many families believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Are these families now to be officially treated with suspicion and even linked with extremism? Are teachers going to be required to spy on them and even reported to the police?

“Christians believe that homosexual practice is wrong and that marriage between a man and a woman is the pattern given by God and the only proper place for sexual expression. Is Nicky Morgan now saying that that is an ‘extremist’ view that needs to be monitored or punished?

“We are on the verge of a sinister new era of ‘thought-policing’ in our schools. This is the imposition of a new sexual ideology under the guise of fighting extremism. The real problem is violence and terrorism that has sprung out of Islamic ideology. But if Nicky Morgan gets her way, Christians and others with mainstream views on marriage will fall under suspicion and be punished.

“Nicky Morgan's deliberate choice of homosexuality as an example in this morning’s interview is further evidence that a right desire to fight Islamic-inspired terrorism is having the effect of creating a Trojan Horse to impose a new sexual ideology.”

Listen to Nicky Morgan comments on the Today programme