Context for the 1996 UK Baha'i Statement on Homosexuality

Section 28 was an amendment of the 1988 Local Government Act which stated that a localauthority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26) - Statute Law Database Local Government Act 1988Thefollowing linkhas news reports of about 20 cases of lesbian or gay support groups either closing or being banned or of material, including an opera by Benjamin Britten, being banned inschools as a result of this act.In response to thisStonewall, a UK lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity was formed in 1989lobbying against section 28 of the Local Government Act. Sir Ian McKellen, Lisa Power (MBE),Matthew Parris and Michael Cashman were among its founders.This bill was repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of theUK by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003. In June 2009, David Cameron— then leader of the Conservative Party — formally apologised on behalf of his party which introduced the law,stating that it was a mistake and had been offensive to gay people. He restated this in January2010 and proposed to alter the policy of the Conservative Party to reflect his belief that equalityshould be taught in British schools.The statement by the UK of the NSA was addressed to a London SACRE (Standing AdvisoryCouncil on Religious Education).The Education Act of 1996 (in affect modifying Section 28) enabled teachers to mention and to besupportive of homosexuality and for a more effective support system against bullying in schools.The following statement was emailed to me, Sonja van Kerkhoff on 6 November 1996 by thesecretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of the United Kingdom :

Homosexuality

The National Spiritual Assembly, as the elected administrative body for the Baha'i Faith in theUnited Kingdom, is concerned at some aspects of the sexual education of schoolchildren in thiscountry. Baha'is believe that the sexual impulse is a God-given one, and the source of great joy andfulfilment if expressed in the intended way. The appropriate circumstance for this is withinmarriage, the legally,socially, and spiritually sanctioned union of two adults of the opposite sex.Other expressions are neither valid nor to be encouraged. We recognise that this ideal, of chastity before marriage and fidelity within it, is unfashionable.However it is taught by the world's grea religions, and is part of the basis of a stable andcivilised society. Its rejection is in part a cause and in part an effect of the stresses, strain, anddevaluation of people, that is occurring in the present-day world. The moral and sexual education of children cannot be taken separately, and must be basedupon heterosexuality, fidelity, and the family unit. Baha'is reject the idea that homosexuality is something to be regarded as normal and its