A group of American Christian fundamentalists whose slogan is "God hates fags" is threatening to picket an east London primary school over its anti-homophobia work.A row broke out at George Tomlinson primary school in Waltham Forest, north-east London, earlier this month when some parents pulled their children out of lessons planned for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender history month.
The school used books on homosexual relationships, in one case between two male penguins.
Members of the Westboro Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas – which has been the subject of a Louis Theroux television exposé – say they will picket the school next Friday afternoon.
The group's founder, Reverend Fred Phelps, was barred from entering Britain last month to stop him spreading "extremism and hatred". He had intended to picket a play about a homophobic killing.
A message on the group's website announcing their plans said: "God hates the UK and the Tomlinson school fag tyranny, where conscientious parents face religious persecution for withdrawing their children from lessons on lying fag so-called history."
Parents who withdrew their children from the classes have been told their absences will be treated as truanting. Waltham Forest council has supported the work its schools are doing to tackle homophobia, which has included a production at a neighbouring secondary of Romeo and Julian, which features a kiss between the two male leads.
A council spokesperson said: "Waltham Forest council wants to promote tolerance in our schools by teaching children everyone in our society is of equal value. This is a core part of the national curriculum for all schools in the country.
"We are supporting teachers and schools in taking positive and innovative steps to develop children's ability to respect people's differences."
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(Source: TGUK)