Protests have now been rumbling for weeks outside a primary school over a gay teacher running LGBTQ equality lessons.

Angry parents, who have been protesting since the end of last month, claim they have not consented to their children receiving the lessons as part of the No Outsiders project run by Andrew Moffat.

The assistant headteacher at Parkfield Community School in the predominately Muslim Alum Rock area of Birmingham, was awarded an MBE for his efforts to educate children about equality.

Hundreds of parents have gathered outside Parkfield Community School. Picture: Caters News

Mums and dads have been seen outside waving placards with emotive messages including ‘exploiting children’s innocence’ and ‘education not indoctrination’.




Concerned parent Fatima Shah says she has taken her 10-year-old daughter out of the school over the lessons.

She told BirminghamLive: ‘It’s inappropriate, totally wrong. Children are being told it’s OK to be gay yet 98 per cent of children at this school are Muslim. It’s a Muslim community.’

Comic and author Shappi Khorsandi responded on Twitter, saying: ‘There are LGBT Muslim people suffering cos of this attitude. It IS ok to be gay’.

‘Children are being told it's OK to be gay yet 98 per cent of children at this school are Muslim. It's a Muslim community’ There are LGBT Muslim people suffering cos of this attitude. It IS ok to be gay. If you’re not telling your kids that, school must https://t.co/UxjmAdF67t — Shappi Khorsandi (@ShappiKhorsandi) January 28, 2019

While many of the 300 parents protesting outside the academy school are Muslim, a group of Christian evangelists joined them on Wednesday.

Pupils have five No Outsiders lessons a year covering all areas of the Equality Act, which protects people in the UK from discrimination.

Areas in the act include race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, age, marriage and civil partnership, disability and gender reassignment.

Books being read by pupils at the school include Mommy, Mama and Me and King & King.

Mr Moffat’s programme was first piloted in 2014 at Parkfield Community School and is now taught at several other schools in the UK.

Mums and Dads hold placards with emotive messages on them. Picture: Caters News

Parents are angry about Andrew Moffat’s No Outsiders education programme. Picture: Caters News

Angry parents argue they have not consented to diversity lessons. Picture: Caters News

Despite coming under fire, Mr Moffat, who says he has felt ‘threatened’ after receiving ‘nasty messages’, has no plans to stop his work.

He told the BBC: ‘What keeps me going is the support from the school which is absolutely brilliant, the DfE, Ofsted, the city council.

‘There are lots of people recognising that this work is important and that’s what you have to hold on to’.

Andrew Moffat MBE says he is kept going by the support of his school. Picture: BPM Media

Supporters of the teacher have taken to social media to show their support, with Adam Walthaus tweeting: ‘Standing in complete solidarity with @moffat_andrew and the important work he is doing with #nooutsiders’.

Standing in complete solidarity with @moffat_andrew and the important work he is doing with #nooutsiders – a true inspiration and positive role model. #Equality is really quite a simple concept! #celebratingdiversity #love #compassion #tolerance — Adam Walthaus (@MrWalthaus) February 15, 2019

Holly Thomas described the No Outsiders scheme as ‘wonderful and necessary’, adding: ‘Honestly I think its inspirational to see someone like you encouraging inclusion & being such a brilliant role model towards our future generation’.

@moffat_andrew Honestly I think its inspirational to see someone like you encouraging inclusion & being such a brilliant role model towards our future generation… It's people like you who are considerate & accepting that make the world great… Sending love ❤️#nooutsiders — Holly Thomas (@HolskiThomas) February 15, 2019

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