Evangelical Group Suggests Expressing Christian Faith More Challenging Than LGBT Identity for Young People

David Smyth from the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland (EANI) stated that some young individuals perceive “it is much more difficult now to come out as an evangelical Christian in school than it is to come out as LGBT.” He conveyed to Stormont assembly members that Christians do not wish to “fight a culture war” concerning the instruction of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in educational institutions. Members of the Assembly (MLAs) serving on Stormont’s Education Committee are currently conducting an investigation into RSE within Northern Ireland. The Evangelical Alliance functions as a Christian organization, representing various churches and individuals. Mr. Smyth additionally remarked: “I do think we need to be careful not to create new secular blasphemies.” He further questioned: “Is it secular blasphemy to believe that a man cannot biologically become a woman?” Mr. Smyth informed the committee that despite the Evangelical Alliance holding certain “concerns” regarding RSE content, the situation was not one of “religion versus RSE.” He affirmed: “We’re not looking to fight a culture war where children are the casualties.” He elaborated: “There’s so much common ground between Christians and non-Christians when it comes to the teaching of healthy relationships, consent, preventing violence against women and girls, sexualisation.” However, he noted that parents expressed worries about certain information they had encountered in the media concerning RSE instruction. He made reference to an earlier report by Conservative MP Miriam Cates, which focused on RSE in schools across England and Wales. He stated: “This report details some examples of age-inappropriate material being taught in RSE on issues like sexual practices which may be dangerous or even illegal, like choking or chem sex.” He additionally claimed that certain RSE lessons included “scientifically inaccurate material which confuses and conflates biological sex with gender identity, and teaches that children can choose to become a man or a woman, or both or neither.” He further mentioned: “There are some specific areas where the views of evangelical Christians, and many Catholics and Muslims are very distinctive, for example abortion.” All post-primary schools in Northern Ireland are mandated to educate students on abortion access and the prevention of early pregnancy. This requirement stems from former Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris introducing RSE regulations in Parliament in 2023. Mr. Smyth remarked: “I do sense some suspicion in some quarters that Christian ethos equates to indoctrination or brain-washing, maybe for good reason in the past in certain instances.” He added: “But good RSE is about helping young people understand and think well about relationships, sex, identity and how this plays with their own moral beliefs and values.” He emphasized: “State schools are not Sunday schools.” During the questioning period, Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, who chairs the committee, suggested that Mr. Smyth appeared to be “expressing a concern that there are teachers somewhere that are trying to effectively change children’s minds to push an agenda of some sort.” Mr. Smyth responded: “I think when it comes to something like the teaching of something like the law on abortion or differing sexual identities our concern is just that there is space when that is taught and how that is taught, that that is not ideologically driven.” He further stated: “It’s that space that we would want for all young people, to be able to respond to the facts that are taught.” Previously, the committee received testimony from Dr. Susan Lagdon of Ulster University and Dr. Julie Ann Jordan regarding their research concerning violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. Dr. Lagdon indicated that violence against women and girls constitutes “a significant issue,” yet numerous individuals in Northern Ireland remain unfamiliar with terms such as coercive control. She explained: “This relates to patterns of negative and harmful behaviour which can ensue within intimate relationships with the purpose to dominate, intimidate or threaten a person into submission.” She continued: “Coercive control is a term which captures the reality of abuse which many face.” She added: “It’s not a one-off incident and is not always physical in nature.” In Northern Ireland, coercive control is recognized as a distinct offense. However, Dr. Lagdon observed that, generally, the implementation of “prevention programmes addressing partner violence” in Northern Irish schools was “inconsistent.”