“It’s okay to be gay”: LGBT-inclusive education in liberal pluralist societies

Dr Christina Easton (Warwick)

14:00 – 15:30

What should be the aim of LGBT-inclusive, state-mandated curricula in liberal, pluralist societies? In this paper, I identify two distinct aims that such curricula might have. The first, LGBT Respect, aims to teach that LGBT individuals have equal political status and rights. The second, LGBT Approval, aims to teach a positive attitude towards LGBT relationships, including that these are morally on a par with heterosexual relationships. I examine what arguments in favour of these different aims are available to the liberal concerned with accommodating pluralism. To capture this concern, I adopt the political liberal restriction that justifications must be acceptable to all reasonable citizens. This initially seems to recommend curricula that aim at LGBT Respect but stop short of LGBT Approval. Can the political liberal go any further? I propose and critically discuss the most promising arguments in favour of LGBT Approval, including the need to prevent harm to children, ensure political equality, and secure the primary good of self-respect. I tentatively conclude that there exists a cumulative case for state-mandated curricula aiming at LGBT Approval, at least in the contingent, non-ideal circumstances that currently obtain. 

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