Stop educating our children.

Let me start with a grossly offensive and obscene statement: “We should not teach our children about religion. It is my right as a parent that my kid doesn’t become exposed and converted to Islam or to Judaism or Christianity. As a parent it’s my job to decided when to educate my child on these religious identities, these lifestyle choices. No one forces you to be religious, and I don’t mind people being religious, as long as you don’t shove it down my family’s throat!”

I obviously do not believe the above statement, but if you replace the subject of religion with the subject of LGBT+ and queer identity you might start to understand why this issue, amongst members of the LGBT+ and queer communities, is so paramount.

In today’s liberal society, we cannot differentiate between ‘protected characteristics’ under the Equality Act, so that religion or race cannot be elevated above sexuality and gender. They are all equal, and should remain so!

This debate shouldn’t therefore be about teaching LGBT+ or queer education, but about teaching kids of a certain age about the world around them. For me there isn’t too early a time to open the eyes of our children to the wonderful diversity our society contains.

When I was growing up is South Somerset, I counted a Muslim girl as one of my closest friends. We were both in the minority and had more in common than with others who’d never been picked on for being different.

Her friendship didn’t make me any more or less inclined to Islam, but it did open my eyes to the validity of her religion and identity, just as my friendship with her didn’t make her change her own sexuality as a result of knowing a – albeit closeted – queer person.

My nephews are aware that I am gay. They are also aware that I’m not religious. They’re aware that I am political and that I live in London. But they mainly know me as their Uncle, the person who gives them too much sugar, encourages them to be mischievous, carries them on top of their shoulders, and loves them unconditionally.

So if we allow our schools to buckle under the pressure of parents who seek to exclude their children from LGBT+ and Queer education, we should also stop educating our children on everything else that makes it wonderful to be British, with the vast spectrum of identities we each have on these wonderful isles.

That isn’t the Britain I know and recognise, and it isn’t the Britain I want. We need to celebrate our differences, and ensure that all our kids have the knowledge to go out in the world and make a difference – and that does not come from suppressing our children’s education.

This week, parliament voted overwhelmingly to support the introduction of LGBT-inclusive RSE in schools. However, there were a couple of notable politicians who didn't support this bill. Kate Hoey, my local MP, has a vibrant LGBT+ community in her constituency – where was she on this vote? Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, also didn't vote – where was he? And Marcus Fysh, MP for my hometown – Yeovil, actively voted against the bill – do you think my identity is not worthy of education?

With the media allowing a debate on this subject, when in truth there is no debate to be had, we clearly have come a long way, but have a long way to go, and it illustrates why the Pride movement is still needed within the UK because my identity, and the identities of my queer family, is not up for debate.