Jeremy Corbyn says Gay History Month should be introduced in schools

Schools are currently under no obligation to include LGBT issues within their teaching, despite pressure from Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) campaigners

Jeremy Corbyn was a guest speaker at the Pink News awards ceremony (Rex)

A gay history month should be introduced and taught in schools, updating the curriculum to include valuable lessons on LGBT rights and important historical figures, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has proposed.

Speaking at the PinkNews awards ceremony on Wednesday, Mr Cobyn pledged to introduce changes to the school curriculum to better reflect LGBT issues should Labour come into power.

He also paid tribute to David Cameron, who was named Ally of the Year by the LGBT news website for introducing equal marriage during his time as Prime Minister, but remarked that there was still more the government could do to pardon victims of homophobic discrimination.

Asked if schools would have a gay history month modelled on Black History Month, Mr Corbyn told the Press Association: “There could be that, or there could be part of the core curriculum to understand the change in law, the way in which we have changed homosexual law from the illegality of homosexual acts until the 1960's, when the original homosexual law reform came in.

”Then through to the period when same sex marriage was agreed by Parliament two years ago.

“I want it to become part of the norm of discussion in schools, so discussing it in literature, discussing it in history, so that we don't treat it as separate.”

Mr Corbyn said that he would also issue a formal apology to all gay people who were convicted of now abolished sexual offences, if he came to be prime minister.

The persecution of high profile LGBT people including Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing should also be covered in school teaching, he added.

“To say, 'well look, Oscar Wilde was a gay man, Oscar Wilde wrote great poetry, great literature, and suffered the most appalling treatment'. As did Alan Turing, who was chemically castrated, which is unbelievable in this day and age”, he said.

“So, bring forward those figures as the heroes they were of the time, and help to bring forward an atmosphere of people respecting each other’s sexuality.”

Asked if the proposals could provoke criticism in some quarters, Mr Corbyn said: “It might well, but then I do remember a time when there was great controversy over all kinds of legislation that has now become the norm in our lives.”

Sidonie Bertrand-Shelton, Programmers Manager for LGBT rights charity Stonewall, said: "It would be fantastic to see more schools mark LGBT History Month, which provides a great opportunity for young people to learn about the historic discrimination that LGBT people face.

"Many of the 1400-plus schools that Stonewall works with choose to celebrate the month with our support, and find it a useful way to celebrate visible LGBT role models and reflect on the barriers LGBT folk still face here and abroad.

"First and foremost, however, we must see age-appropriate compulsory and inclusive Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in schools, so that all pupils can make safe and informed decisions about their relationships and well-being. So while a month is a great start, we’re working towards an inclusive curriculum where everyone is free to be themselves."