I can assure Ministers that the aggressive loudmouthed crusading lobbies do not represent the mass of homosexuals in this country. Chris Woodhead, Chief Inspector of Schools, has said that there is NO evidence that Section 28 limited teachers' ability to deal with bullies. Section 28 does NOT need to be amended to prevent bullying. An amendment would be a gift to the militant gay rights lobby who would probably exploit it as a loophole. If anything Section 28 should be extended to cover health authorities.
Homosexuals are to be treated with the same respect as anyone else.
I can think of no other issue on which politicians are so spectacularly out of touch with the views of the man and woman in the street. If they are not reminded of that fact, they will push ahead with ever more damaging and immoral proposals. Although Cardinal Winning led the debate in Scotland about the repeal of Section 28 all of the bishops of Scotland's eight Roman Catholic dioceses have instructed priests to read out a message at all Masses outlining the Church's opposition to the Labour Party's stance. It recognises that education is a formative experience and has a unique role in the development of not just individual pupils but of society as a whole. Governments, both Conservative and New Labour, put the family at the heart of a stable society.