Last Monday was the start of Anti-Bullying Week. What has bullying got to do with Newsround, you might ask. A clue to understanding the answer can be seen in this teachers' video from 6mins 30secs into the recording until 7mins 10secs.
The boy in the white T-shirt says "Being left out is probably a more common type of bullying because like bullying isn't always so huge like some people put it out as." In other words "being left out" or excluded is a form of bullying.
Newsround won't have anything to do with reporting about gay people, families or relationships. But they're happy giving ample time to reports about heterosexual people and families. Take, for instance, the wedding of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise last weekend:
Tom and Katie set for wedding
Tom and Katie's guests arrive
Tom and Katie celebrate wedding
Katie and Tom's wedding
Tom and Katie go on honeymoon
Tony Green, a gay teacher forced from his teaching job in London because of homophobia said: We've got to get through this "You're gay, and that tells me all I need to know about you." And only visibility can do that.
But far from helping, BBC kids' programmes are silent on lgbt issues, thereby making gay people invisible to children. From the comfort and safety of their Television Centre offices the programme makers plan children's programmes with deliberate unconcern for those kids and teachers who have to deal with homophobia and homophobic bullying every day of their lives. The Children's Commissioner has at last reiterated what others have been saying - that bullying must be picked up at an early stage.
In a short video specially made for Anti-Bullying Week, Stephen Williams MP says it's more difficult for gay kids at school and explains why action is needed against homophobic bullying.
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