SOUTH Lanarkshire’s Labour-run council is letting down young LGBT+ people, says Cameron Eadie, the Scottish Green candidate in the upcoming Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
In a letter to Scottish Labour candidate Michael Shanks, Eadie has condemned the decision of South Lanarkshire Council to reject the inclusion of LGBT+ inclusive education into schools, instead delaying it by sending it to an education committee.
Eadie described the decision as “deeply troubling” and called for the Labour candidate to join him in opposing it.
The SNP motion was heard on August 23, with Labour councillors defending their position online, calling the narrative they rejected the motion a “misrepresentation” by the SNP of what happened.
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Labour councillor Martin Lennon shared an exchange he had with SNP councillor Katy Loudon, who is also the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election candidate for her party.
Lennon wrote: “Labour voted to remit to education committee with a proper report so that it could be properly implemented. I approached the SNP group before the meeting to assure that this was in good faith and that we supported the substance. Why are they completely misrepresenting this?
“We literally told them what we were doing and why, in advance. The chair and deputy chair of education then reiterated this in the meeting.
“I spoke to councillor Loudon immediately before and she said: 'it might look like a sop to [people who oppose Time for Inclusive Education]. Me: 'it's not'. Loudon: 'I know'.”
Lennon added he presumed the “deliberate misrepresentation” by the SNP would make it “more difficult to engage in good faith in future”.
However, Scottish Greens candidate Eadie (above) said: “This was a very disappointing decision and I know that for many it will be seen as a cop-out. For some LGBTQ+ young people, having an education that includes and validates their experiences can be transformative.
“Over recent years, we have seen a shocking increase in hate crimes against LGBT+ communities, and far too many young people are suffering. A lot of the hostility has been fuelled by the kind of vile lies and scaremongering that truly inclusive education would educate against.
“I want every young person in Rutherglen and Hamilton West to feel safe being who they are, and schools have a crucial role to play in that. I hope that Michael Shanks will join me in calling for his Labour colleagues to reconsider their indecision and delay and to deliver a fully inclusive education.”
