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Debate in the Dundee Presbytery of the Church
of Scotland on Section 28
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Extract from a speech delivered during the debate by Mr. C. A. Webster, elder, Broughty Ferry St. James
“The presence of Section 2A has never meant and does not mean that questions of homosexuality are not addressed in schools. On the other hand, neither will the absence (withdrawal) of Section 2A mean that homosexuality as a lifestyle will be promoted in all Scottish schools
This means the argument that schools need to be free of Section 2A in order to teach objectively about homosexuality does not hold up. That is already under Section 2A. It is the active promotion of homosexuality that is not acceptable.
One of the main arguments put forward for the repeal of Section 2A is that it does not allow teachers/guidance staff to confront homophobic bullying. This is not so. Any form of bullying can be confronted and there is no evidence that Section 2A makes any difference, either way. It is possible (though not likely) that (with the rest of us) teachers have been unaware of the existence of Section 2A until this current debate gained national publicity. No one has made any serious claim with proof that Section 2A actually encourages bullying. It would be ridiculous to do so.
There is another argument which opponents of Section 2A put forward which has to do with the inclusion of homosexual and lesbian organisations in local authority support. This argument is largely redundant since local authorities which wished to support these groups, have already done so.
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