Labour MP Defends LGBT+ Education to Angry Protestor in Birmingham

Labour MP Jess Phillips has defended LGBT+ inclusive education to an angry protestor outside a Birmingham school.

The school has been one of many targeted by protestors over the last several weeks from a coalition of parents and anti-LGBT+ campaigners.

In the clip Phillips confronts one of the protestors who asks her: “How come you haven’t been here, and how come you haven’t been supporting the 300 parents who have been protesting here for the last four weeks? Where have you been?”

“I don’t agree with the protest,” Phillips responded, “I don’t agree that you get to pick and choose which equality you can and can’t have.

“Our equality laws protect us all. I want them to protect you, and actually I want to protect you, and actually I want to protect the Muslim community.

“What is happening here… the worst thing about it is, it’s damaging the reputation of a peaceful and loving community that I have lived in my entire life.”

The protestor then accused Phillips of being “intolerant” to the Muslim community, to which she replied: “I’m not intolerant towards you… to be honest, you’re not a parent at this school. I don’t have to talk to you. All I want to say to you is I fear that you are damaging the reputation of the Muslim community.

The man was later identified as Shakeel Afsar – he does not have any children attending the school, but has been involved in efforts to coordinate protests outside it.

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