Councillor Calls For Local Authority To Wipe Out Homophobic Bullying In It’s Educational Institutions

Homophobic bullying is a big issue in schools and colleges around the country, and whilst many towns and cities take a far from proactive role in challenging that Reading, in Berkshire, is one bucking the trend.

And one man in particular is leading that change – Councillor Tim Harris. A Conservative MP for the city, Harris will tomorrow raise concerns about the amount of homophobic bullying which is occurring in educational establishments in Reading, and ask that Reading authority agrees to a resolution that will deplore all forms of bullying. He will also request that the authority works with the education champions campaign, currently being run by gay rights charity Stonewall, to better deal with issues around that of homophobia.

Finally in an attempt to monitor what impact it has, Harris will call for homophobic bullying to be included in anti-bullying policies by September 2010, and a report be produced and give to the education and children’s services scrutiny panel.

Councillor Tim Harris’ focus on dealing with homophobic bullying ties in with the views of Conservative leader, David Cameron, who admitted in a live webcast that homophobic bullying was an issue, but one that can and would be dealt with by a Conservative government (you can see his full response to a question by Stonewall on the subject at the 45 minute point).

Photo via John Steven Fernandez, story via Pink Paper.