Dame Nia Griffith said she feared losing her job as a teacher in the 1980s if she called out discriminatory language because of legislation at the time which prevented intentional promotion of homosexuality.
“But back in the 80s, section 28 – introduced into law by the then-Conservative government – banned the promotion of homosexuality or the teaching, in any maintained school, of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.
Intervening, Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North) said: “I appreciate the minister’s apology, but to have taken such a stance would have meant she would have lost her job.
An equalities minister has said she “should have done more” to protect pupils who faced discrimination due to their sexuality during her time as a secondary school teacher.
Dame Nia said: “I did not protect those pupils who were the object of such comments in the way that they should have been protected.
