The Coalition: our programme for government

The Coalition has published its aims. The Government has committed to push for unequivocal support for gay rights, and to tackle bullying in schools especially homophobic bullying.

BBC children's services have, in recent times, almost completely avoided lesbigay issues, treating the word 'gay' like a four-letter word. As far as I'm aware homophobia has never been mentioned on Newsround, despite evidence that homophobic bullying is one of the most common forms of bullying in both primary and secondary schools. Furthermore messages asking for help about homophobic bullying were excluded from the relevant CBBC message board, which was peremptorily closed down in December 2008.

Clearly a lot more needs to be done to combat homophobia, but as psychologist Emma Kenny remarked: "when things are hidden they can't get dealt with." (blog on 17 May 2010)