People in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones

Newsround (25/01/2006): "Children in China won't be getting the full picture for some time to come"

No they won't, but neither will children in Britain if Newsround doesn't change its ways.


Yesterday on Newsround there was a news item about Google agreeing to censor its search engine in China. Laura Jones said that when she was reporting from China last year many children seemed afraid to speak freely. Lizo introduced Laura's report by saying "You're probably used to your mum telling you what you can and can't look at on the internet, but what if the government was on your back too. Well that's the situation in China."

Here in Britain, it's not only government or mum, it's also some people at Auntie BBC who think it's wrong to be gay and who are censoring news, contributing to the already difficult time gay children suffer.

Years ago, when Lib Dem MPs Simon Hughes and Mark Oaten were at school, gay people were frowned upon and nearly always found it impossible to admit their sexuality to anyone. They grew up feeling a need to lie in order to be accepted.

But today things should be different. People aren't supposed to suffer discrimination in Britain. Young people today shouldn't feel ashamed to be lesbian, gay, bi, or trans.

Newsround is so prejudiced against a minority, it can't bring itself to mention us. This blog will continue until the BBC recognises that Newsround is treating children no better than the oppressive regime in China treats people who think for themselves.

People in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones.

Cyril Husbands at BBC Diversity Centre is taking a very long time to reply to my last email. I'll have to send a reminder next week if I don't get a reply soon.