A very positive alliance

The youngest person ever to be elected to the London Assembly believes that young people today are “way ahead of the government” on LGBT education in schools.

Labour London Assembly member, Tom Copley (pictured), was just 25-years-old when he was elected in 2012.

Unite member Tom, who is gay, says that during LGBT history month people should remember the longstanding alliance between the labour movement and LGBT equality activism, in order to strengthen resistance to old and outdated Conservative policies now.

In particular, Tom says the government made a “massive mistake” when it announced on February 11 that it would not make sex and relationship education statutory across primary and secondary schools.

The announcement went against the calls of four key House of Commons committees.

Attitudes

“The call for legal recognition and equal rights is almost won. We have to turn to looking at attitudes in society where, although we’ve come a long way in terms of people’s attitudes of LGBT people, there are still battles to be fought – particularly for trans people.

“Education is crucial for that and I think kids and young people today are well ahead of the government on this,” he said.

“Despite overwhelming support amongst experts, the public and young people themselves, the government’s rejection of compulsory sex and relationship education in schools was a huge mistake.

“It’s incredibly important, not just in terms of discussing LGBT issues, but for giving young people the information they need to make educated and informed choices.”

For young LGBT people school can be a nightmare. Fifty-five percent of LGBT school children report being bullying at school, with many suffering physical assaults.

Tom is not alone in his view that compulsory sex and relationship education should be implemented throughout the UK – it has long been a policy of the Labour Party as well.

In fact, most of the big steps towards LGBT equality have been taken under Labour governments, including the decriminalisation of homosexuality, civil partnerships, ending the ban on gay people serving in the military and the introduction lesbian fertility rights.

Even though gay marriage was introduced under a Conservative government, 128 Tory MPs voted against it and it would not have been carried through without the overwhelming support of Labour.

These changes have been brought about through by a “very positive alliance” between the labour movement and advocates of LGBT equality, says Tom.

Struggle

“These things didn’t just happen – people fought for them and it’s important that we remember their struggle. The legal age of consent and gay marriage didn’t just occur to politicians,” he said.

“There’s always been a cross over with LGBT activism, and the labour movement has taken a particularly active role in championing LGBT equality.

“That’s taken place both through the trade unions and the also the Labour Party itself. It hasn’t always been plain sailing but broadly speaking it’s been a very positive alliance.”

It is an alliance that Unite is committed to strengthening.