Cardiff University cancels speaker who calls LGBT+ lessons an ‘indoctrination’
Cardiff University has blocked a talk by Dr Kate Godfrey-Faussett, a psychologist under investigation for her views opposing LGBT-inclusive relationship and sex education (RSE).
Cardiff University said on Wednesday (April 10) that the event “had not followed our booking procedure” and, as such, had been cancelled.
Godfrey-Faussett has spearheaded a campaign against RSE, which is set to become compulsory in schools from September 2020.
In a speech shared on YouTube in November 2018, she said that the lessons are designed for the “queering” of Muslims, and claimed that children are “turning to same-sex relationships because they haven’t had the guidance.”
“This is not education, this is ideological indoctrination that’s happening. The aim is to redefine sexuality and gender and family norms,” she added.
“They are not saying let’s break down the family, they are saying ‘this is family, mum and mum and dad and dad.'”
Kate Godfrey-Faussett’s Cardiff University lecture cancelled
The psychologist, who converted to Islam 25 years ago, was invited to speak about the new RSE curriculum by the Muslim Council of Wales at an event scheduled for April 13 at the Julian Hodge building at Cardiff University.
The council, quoted in the BBC, said it had been “reassured that she is committed to respectful and accurate dialogue on the sensitive topic of sex education in schools,” despite an ongoing investigation by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
A Cardiff University spokesperson said in a statement: “Differing and often controversial views can be brought forward, listened to and challenged at universities,
“However, as this event has not followed our procedure for carrying out relevant due diligence, we have taken the decision not to allow it to go ahead.”
British Psychological Society investigate anti-RSE activist
After Godfrey-Faussett’s repeated tirades against RSE, which MPs voted to introduce on March 27, she was placed under investigation by the BPS.
On April 2 the society said in a statement: “Respect, equality, tolerance and a non-judgemental approach are the bedrock of good psychological practice and are the values that we know the vast majority of psychologists embrace day in, day out.”
“As a result of our concerns, we have referred Dr Godfrey-Faussett to her regulator, the HCPC, as we feel her comments have the potential to undermine the public’s confidence in the psychology profession. We are also conducting our own investigation which could result in Dr Godfrey-Faussett being removed from our membership.”
“We feel her comments have the potential to undermine the public’s confidence in the psychology profession.”
— The British Psychological Society
Godfrey-Faussett claims she is the victim of a “witch hunt against the Muslim community”.
Speaking to the 5Pillars website on April 4, she added: “I never said LGBT is an assault on the family. But I do believe that the traditional family is under assault and that this secular ideology behind the RSE programme is a war against morality. “