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LGBT people 'never felt more vulnerable' in Birmingham | LGBT people 'never felt more vulnerable' in Birmingham |
(30 minutes later) | |
People who identify as LGBT say they have "never felt more vulnerable" in Birmingham, following protests against same-sex relationship education. | People who identify as LGBT say they have "never felt more vulnerable" in Birmingham, following protests against same-sex relationship education. |
Some Muslim parents have been protesting since January against the No Outsiders programme at Parkfield Community School in Alum Rock. | |
LGBT community members expressed disappointment in the police response at an open meeting on Thursday. | |
A West Midlands Police officer said the force "could have done more". | A West Midlands Police officer said the force "could have done more". |
Insp Matt Crowley said policing "hadn't been perfect" but the force took hate crime "very seriously". | Insp Matt Crowley said policing "hadn't been perfect" but the force took hate crime "very seriously". |
The meeting held in Birmingham's gay village was attended by more than 100 people, the majority of whom agreed they felt increasingly threatened, anxious and frightened. | |
Birmingham LGBT said it had recorded a rise in hate crime. However, Insp Crowley said protests outside Parkfield school did not constitute a crime, despite coming "very close to that line". | |
For several weeks, parents, mostly of Muslim faith, have been calling on the school to scrap the programme that teaches children about same sex couples through story books. | |
They believe the subject is "undermining parental rights and authority" and have said the lessons are "toxic" and "disgusting". | They believe the subject is "undermining parental rights and authority" and have said the lessons are "toxic" and "disgusting". |
Ch Insp Sarah Tambling told the meeting police "are not the right people to sort this out - there needs to be a partnership". | |
She apologised to the group, the majority of whom raised their hands when she asked if they felt increasingly vulnerable in Birmingham. | She apologised to the group, the majority of whom raised their hands when she asked if they felt increasingly vulnerable in Birmingham. |
Andrew Moffat, the school's deputy head teacher who devised the programme, said the school was now re-engaging with parents and a meeting had been held on Thursday afternoon. | Andrew Moffat, the school's deputy head teacher who devised the programme, said the school was now re-engaging with parents and a meeting had been held on Thursday afternoon. |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |