Izzy Montague
(Picture: Christian Legal Centre)A mother who claims her son was “forced” to take part in a Pride event is suing his south London primary school.
Izzy Montague, 38, is taking Heavers Farm Primary School in South Norwood to court after claiming she was told by the school’s head her four-year-old son could not opt out of the June 2018 event.
According to the Times, the court heard the school sent a letter to parents on June 19 inviting them to take part in the event and “celebrate the differences that make them and their family special”.
A week later Ms Montague contacted the school and asked for her son to be excused, saying she did not want him involved with “adherence to views she did not accept”.
The request was refused by the school’s head, Susan Papas, Central London county court heard. The case is said to be a UK first.
At the start of the eight-day case Judge Christopher Lethem described Montague and her husband as “devout born-again Christians” and said they believe that “sexual relations should be abstained from or take place within a life-long marriage between a man and a woman and any activity outside those confines is sinful”.
He said: “They also say pride is considered to be the most serious of the deadly sins.”
The court heard Mrs Montague objected to the idea of her son’s class singing songs such as Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’ on the basis they were “gay anthems”.
Giving evidence Montague said she had previously expressed concerns to her son’s teacher about the types of books they were reading in class.
Montague attended a meeting with Ms Papas on September 19 during which the head’s daughter wore a T-shirt with the slogan: “Why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you could just be quiet?”, the court heard.
Ms Montague is being supported in her legal battle by conservative organisation Christian Legal Centre.
The case continues.
