There is no reliable data on the LGBT population in Scotland, but is thought to be about 5% of the Scottish population, however this is likely to be underestimated, as asking about sexual orientation/identity is a new phenomena in national surveys and many people still do not feel the climate is right to be open about such personal issues (Scottish Government 2013a). In Britain 4% of people say they are completely homosexual whereas 19% feel they are somewhere in between (Dahlgreen and Shakespeare 2016).
Reassurances should be given that it is OK to feel confusion, sexuality may not be fixed, it may be for some, but for others it may change over time (Acred 2016).
On top of this many LGBTI children are faced with predjudice and violence in their own home environment, and children did not feel they could be open with their family (FRA 2013, Acred 2016).
Formby (2013) looked at barriers and enablers to schools and youth services around tackling issues around homosexuality, homophobia and transphobia in 9 settings in one region of England, with 220 mixed respondents of teachers, youth workers and young people aged 11-20, using questionnaires, and about a 1/3rd in-depth interviews or discussions. She found that despite changes in law in regard to equalities, that little had changed in the views of people towards the ‘unnaturalness’ of same-sex relationships and about suitability and discourse surrounding these and associated issues within educational practice. This and other studies conclude that it is the evasiveness of addressing and talking about these issues that lead to prejudice through exclusion, and in promoting heterosexualism (Biddulph 2006, Atkinson 2002). Atkinson (2002) strongly argues that when schools and teachers assume a position of ‘inaction’ they are conversely adopting a stance of promoting a heterosexist view through the promoting of heterosexual norms, in the absence of teaching materials and role models of non heterosexualism. Chapman & Wright (2008) compared the number of books containing LGBT material, in 2 schools, 1 in USA and one in England, and found there was on average 1 book for every 58 students. Greenblatt (2001) found there to be on average 27% in a typical classroom of students, were either LGB or have a member of their close family who are, this was found to be unacceptable. Although the library staff attitudes were positive there were concerns about age appropriate, complaints about providing this material and if it was their role to source such, and that blocks to access due to software filtering, and it being their role to provide these materials (Chapman & Wright 2008) , () found that children themselves even in primary school … to heterosexual practices and play. Even though
