Boyfriends with Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, ListsLance has always known he was gay, but he’s never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection–but will it be enough to overcome their differences?
Allie’s been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years–but when she meets Kimiko, she can’t get her out of her mind. Does this mean she’s gay? Does it mean she’s bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.
Boyfriends with Girlfriends is Alex Sanchez at his best, writing with a sensitive hand to portray four very real teens striving to find their places in the world–and with each other.
NUS: Less than 20% of students discuss LGBT issues in sex education
An interesting survey, I wonder how much slant the survey took when students from Northern Ireland were incorporated – indeed what is not indicated is whether Queen’s University, Belfast or the Ulster University were included in the survey.
Less than a fifth of all university students discussed LGBT issues in their Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), a survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) reveals.
Gaps in teaching were uncovered, with three-quarters (75%) saying they found out about sex and relationships through friends.
According to respondents, consent was never touched upon in lessons for two-thirds of them, while relationships were covered for less than half.
The NUS said more than a third did not rate their SRE positively on equality and diversity, with less than a fifth saying they were taught about LGBT relationships.
More than half felt the issues they needed to know about were not taught, with only a third feeling they could practically apply their SRE to their real life.
Students agreed that porn was now a standard part of a young person’s life, but three-quarters felt it provided “unrealistic expectations”.
The union, which surveyed 2,500 students, said the results showed an urgent need for statutory SRE in all schools.
The NUS is calling for the measure to be introduced as part of its New Deal general election manifesto.
NUS Vice President Colum McGuire said: “SRE is failing millions. It is not currently compulsory for schools to teach young people about sexual consent and healthy relationships, and LGBT relationships.
“Ignoring all of this is just completely unrealistic. It will never go away – its life. Sexual consent, learning about equal and respectful relationships and gender stereotypes must be alien to this government as they don’t rate them high on the list to educate young people on.
“The government has a responsibility to provide a safe and reliable environment to explore sex and relationships. This is about providing the knowledge young people need in order to make good decisions for themselves.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “Good quality relationship education is an important part of preparing young people for life in modern Britain, and our statutory guidance makes clear that it must be taught in an age appropriate way.
“Sex and relationship education is compulsory in all maintained secondary schools and many primary schools also teach it in an age appropriate manner.
“We also expect academies and free schools to deliver relationship education as part of their provision of a broad and balanced curriculum.
“We have set up a new expert subject group on personal, social and health education (PSHE) to support teachers, made up of leading professionals in the field, and will clarify the key areas on which teachers most need further support and produce new resources where necessary.”
The Education Select Committee will publish its findings on SRE in schools imminently, with the Conservatives yet to announce their position. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats Labour are committed to introducing compulsory SRE
Statutory status would allow SRE to be treated as other subjects – with teachers getting enhanced training, and enough time being allocated in school time-tables for the subject to address real life issues including – respectful relationships consent and LGBT.
Original article: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/29/nus-less-than-20-of-students-discuss-lgbt-issues-in-sex-education/
UK gvmt tells faith-based schools they must promote gay ‘rights’

“Schools should broaden horizons, not close minds, and should encourage pupils to respect other people even if they do not agree with them. I should have thought this is a principle with which the vast majority of people would agree,” said Morgan.
Morgan is on record for having voted against same-sex “marriage,” but has since said she changed her mind about the issue.
The new rules introduced by the Department of Education give inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) power to downgrade the ratings of, or even close, schools that do not conform to the Equality Act.
So the question now is will the Ulster Assembly enact this for faith schools in Northern Ireland – on June 13, 2013 Gary Spedding wrote:
…In Northern Ireland, there is already curriculum covering relationship and sex education, but, difficulty comes in the lack of consistent implementation. This must be addressed urgently by the Education Minister, John O’Dowd. I hope that he and indeed many others will share in the opinion, that implementing PSHE and RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) as compulsory topics of study in the NI curriculum would be an exceptionally positive initial step forward for Northern Ireland…
The Rainbow Project in Northern Ireland wrote:
…Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) young people are a vulnerable group in our society. The Department of Education has an obligation to ensure that these young people are not discriminated against and to actively promote equality of opportunity for them.
Educational structures in Northern Ireland are inherently and systemically heterosexist institutions. By heterosexist we mean that to be heterosexual is not simply considered as more common than same-sex attracted but as normal, correct and morally superior…We now face the absurd anomaly that an LGB&T sixteen-year old with a part time job is better protected in their place of employment than in their place of education.

Further reading:
Relationships
When you start thinking on relationships, you suddenly realize that every one of us has a myriad of relationships which cover every strata of our lives.
A dictionary definition which I like is ‘an emotional or other connection between people’ – for me this says it all; however for some people it will probably not encompass the relationships that they have with their pets, cars, homes etc.
A wonderful quote I came across is:
“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.”
Christopher Isherwood said:
It seems to me that the real clue to your sex-orientation lies in your romantic feelings rather than ijn your sexual feelings. If you are gay, you are able to fall in love with a man, or woman, depending on your preference, and not just enjoy having sex with him or her. (with a small adjustment by the editor).
There has been a wonderful photographic project put together by Braden Summers entitled ‘ALL LOVE IS EQUAL’. The pictures are brilliant in their composition and in the feelings that they encompass and portray.
Three photographs from the project: