Parents have expressed outrage after discovering that primary school children are being taught about the 300 different flags of Pride, including an 'intersex-inclusive' flag and one celebrating polyamory. The material, produced by the charity Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, was shared by the local council on social media and distributed in schools.
The leaflets claim there are more flags representing sexuality and gender identity than there are for countries. Among the 29 varieties detailed are flags for 'trigender', 'polyamory', and a 'heterosexual flag' for straight people, which can include transgender individuals. The guide states that while some may think 300 flags is too many, it is part of a drive to be more inclusive.
One mother, a former teacher, described the guide as 'really concerning', particularly the polyamory flag, which she said encourages children to have multiple sex partners. She also noted that the guide mentions raising awareness of 'lesser known identities across the fetish spectrum', which she deemed inappropriate for primary school children.
Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at human rights charity Sex Matters, criticised the flags, saying they 'draw children in' and suggest they need to find themselves on the list, which is 'inappropriate and unnecessary'. She added that the belief a child can be born in the wrong body is 'deeply unsettling' and children should be protected from such ideas.
A spokesman for Swindon and Wiltshire Pride defended the material, stating it contains no sexual content and is part of curriculum-led work on diversity and LGBTQIA+ relationships. He expressed disappointment at what he called 'unfounded attacks' on the charity's work.
