Christian Mother Sues School for Involvement in LGBT Parade
A devout Christian who claims her four-year-old son was forced to march in an LGBT pride parade has filed a lawsuit against the school.
Izzy Montagu, 38, claims the headteacher of Heavers Farm Primary School in South Norwood, south east London, told her that her son could not opt out of the event in June 2018.
On June 19, the school sent a letter to parents inviting them to a Pride march to “celebrate the differences that make them and their family special.”
However, a week later, Mrs. Montague contacted the school “and asked for her son to be excused from attendance on 29 June as they were concerned about him being involved in a public display of adherence to views which she did not accept.”
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Mrs. Montague’s request was denied by the headteacher, Ms. Susan Papas, so the parent responded with a lengthy email on July 13, according to Central London County Court.
Mrs. Montague and her husband were described as ‘devout born-again Christians, and they bear a belief 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’ by Judge Christopher Lethem at the start of the eight-day case.
‘They also say that pride is the most serious of the deadly sins.’
Mrs. Montague attended a meeting with Ms. Papas on September 19, during which the headteacher’s daughter wore a t-shirt with the slogan “Why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you could just be quiet,” according to the court.
Mrs. Montague testified in court that before the incident, she had expressed concerns to her son’s teacher about the books they were reading in class.
‘What books were they,’ asked Ian Clarke, representing the school.
‘There was one reference to a same-sex family book,’ Mrs. Montague said.
‘I think it’s called The Family Book,’ Mr. Clarke said.
‘I can’t remember the exact name, but it was in the lessons,’ she replied.
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‘So, on June 19, you receive this letter, and you see that it is about celebrating ‘the things that make our family special.’
‘It felt like it was lecturing me about something to do with British values, and somehow we weren’t adhering to British values,’ Mrs. Montague responded.
‘You also say in your witness statement that the letter made a disparaging comment about parents’ attitudes… where does that say that?’ Mr. Clarke inquired.
Mrs. Montague responded, “I just feel like this letter was trying to hammer into parents and drive something into them that hasn’t happened before.”
‘You say the letter is forcing you into the indoctrination of an LGBT lifestyle, where does that say that?’ said Mr. Clarke.
‘I don’t know, I just felt a topic had come up,’ Mrs. Montague told the court.
‘I was not in the know about it, but this was, in my opinion, the way to try to indoctrinate it onto us by passing it off as law or British values or part of the national curriculum, it was trying to sell something no one wanted to buy.’
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Reading from a school blog published on June 18, 2018. ‘This June, the celebration of pride is about learning about the diversity of our entire school community and tackling bullying,’ said Mr. Clarke.
‘As I understand it, you don’t have a problem celebrating the diversity of the entire school community and addressing bullying,’ he asked the parent.
‘Me personally, it’s not something I would celebrate…… It’s not something I would choose to celebrate,’ Ms. Montague responded.
‘I believe it is beneficial for the larger community to come together and learn and live together.
‘I’m not sure what you mean by celebrate, but I wouldn’t go to a party.’
Mr. Clarke questioned, ‘Isn’t the school simply using June to celebrate broader issues of diversity and tolerance?’
‘I believe it’s using pride month and other issues around that time to sell pride month,’ Ms. Montague responded.
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‘I believe it is possible to celebrate diversity without having anything to do with Pride Month.’
‘So, if they did it on May 29th, would we all be here?’ Mr. Clarke wondered.
‘If they celebrated any sexual lifestyles, we’d still be sitting here,’ Ms. Montague said.
‘So, the fact that it is Pride Month is neither here nor there,’ Mr. Clarke inquired.
‘A month dedicated to sexual lifestyles.’ Is a problem in any month,’ Ms. Montague explained.
Mrs. Montague is suing the school on the grounds of direct and indirect discrimination, victimization, and breach of statutory duty under the Education Act of 1996 and the Human Rights Act of 1998.
The hearing is still ongoing.
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