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LGBT people 'never felt more vulnerable' in Birmingham LGBT people 'never felt more vulnerable' in Birmingham
(about 2 hours 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.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 protests did not constitute a hate crime despite coming "very close".
A West Midlands Police officer said the force "could have done more". Many at the meeting said they were disappointed in the protests' policing.
Insp Matt Crowley said policing "hadn't been perfect" but the force took hate crime "very seriously". More than 100 people attended an open meeting on Thursday in Birmingham's gay village, the majority of whom agreed they felt increasingly threatened, anxious and frightened.
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 Matt Crowley said protests outside Parkfield school did not constitute a crime, despite coming "very close to that line".
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". He said policing "hadn't been perfect" but the force took hate crime "very seriously".
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.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 say 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". Four other Birmingham schools have also stopped teaching No Outsiders following complaints by parents.
She apologised to the group, the majority of whom raised their hands when she asked if they felt increasingly vulnerable in Birmingham. The city's Anderton Park Primary School - which does not teach the programme - was the scene of a ninth day of protests on Thursday by parents concerned about the teaching of LGBT issues.
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. Action is also spreading further afield, with parents in Greater Manchester saying they will remove their children from sex and relationship lessons over fears they will be taught about same-sex couples.
Ch Insp Sarah Tambling told Thursday's 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 whether they felt increasingly vulnerable in Birmingham.
Andrew Moffat, Parkfield school's deputy head teacher who devised the No Outsiders programme, said the school was now re-engaging with parents and a meeting had been held on Thursday afternoon.
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