Scotland is officially the first country to include LGBTI issues in public schools. (The I is for “Intersex.”) Students will now learn about LGBTI history, proper terminologies and the various identities, as well as how to push back against homophobia.

Other recommendations include providing free training programs for teachers and offering new teaching materials to tackle LGBTI issues. “Our education system must support everyone to reach their full potential,” [Scottish Deputy First Minister John] Swinney said. “That is why it is vital the curriculum is as diverse as the young people who learn in our schools. “The recommendations I have accepted will not only improve the learning experience of our LGBTI young people, they will also support all learners to celebrate their differences, promote understanding and encourage inclusion.”

This is only the latest example of a European nation being far more progressive and logical than the United States. You can imagine the backlash if such a program was instituted here. Scores of Christians would be up in arms about how schools are trying to “convert” kids to the “gay lifestyle” (which is not how it works). They would say teaching kids to fight homophobia is anti-Christian — as if the schools are pushing the religion of secular humanism on students. They would say no one is under any obligation to recognize the existence of bisexuals, transgender, or intersex people.

Unfortunately for them, their prejudice doesn’t change the fact that LGBTQ people exist; these programs simply seek to make the world a less cruel and scary place for them. The people who believe we’re all created in God’s image ought to have no problem with that. It’s too bad bigotry often supersedes God’s Word.

Good on Scotland for updating their curriculum to reflect the current century and paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps.

(Image via Shutterstock)

