Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson, campaigners for TIE, call for the Scottish Government to ensure inclusive education for all young people

WE ARE in the midst of a social epidemic.

One in four LGBT+ children are attempting suicide in Scotland’s schools. Over half are deliberately and regularly self-harming as a result of bullying.

Last June, we launched our campaign – Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) – to tackle this problem by ensuring that an inclusive LGBT+ education is commonplace within all schools across the country.

We submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament and attended a cross-party committee hearing to provide evidence. Outlining that these issues were live and showing no sign of dissipating, we made clear that we need governmental leadership in this area. The solution, for us, lies in adequately training teachers to address LGBT+ issues within the classroom.

On January 12, our petition was closed. The Government outlined its strategy, which centred primarily around updating the national approach to anti-bullying. Whilst this is a welcome step, it simply is not enough – and we speak for thousands when we say that we are not satisfied.

In a parliament with an unprecedented amount of LGB figures in prominent positions, our elected representatives still seem to be swerving this issue. Our cause has struggled to secure any sizeable support from party politicians and we are repeatedly being told that this is to be expected during election period – that of course no mainstream party would pick up an issue concerning LGBT+ when there are seats to be won.

If this is the case – and it certainly looks like it – then our parliamentarians and ministers are placing votes over the lives and wellbeing of our nation’s LGBT+ youth. Perhaps it’s time that we all have a serious word with ourselves.

What is it going to take for our decision makers to sit up and fully address this? A high-profile suicide?

At the same time that Westminster has granted a £2 million fund to various projects aiming to train teaching staff and provide support for school pupils affected by LGBT-phobia, our MSPs seem reluctant to even publicly address the topic.

Each time an LGBT+ youngster takes a razor to their flesh or wraps a noose around their neck, your government has blood on its hands. For too long, we have dealt with a chamber of individuals who have placed their fingers firmly in their ears, too cautious of rocking Scotland’s presbyterian boat. When will enough finally be enough?

Our country may be considered one of the most progressive for LGBT+ rights legislatively but that is not a shield to cower behind and does not disguise the fact that many of our schools are failing to get it right for every child.

If you believe in equality, join us in anger. To those out there who have been impacted by LGBT-phobia – start shouting. Write to your MSP and tell them about your scars, both physical and mental.

Let them know that you cut yourself to take away the pain – pain that you did not need or deserve. Tell them about your darkest thoughts: that you wanted to die and that you were going to do it yourself. Talk about your plans – the rope, the pills or the bridge.

Tell them how you wanted to leave society behind – how you wanted to leave you. Find your voice and use it to stand up for the voiceless. Without you, we won’t succeed.

To the parliamentarians and ministers in Holyrood – there are schoolkids out here harming themselves because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Each day that passes is potentially another successful suicide attempt.

What are we going to do about it?