BRITAIN is an open and tolerant country, writes Redditch MP Rachel Maclean in her latest Letter From Westminster.

A country where no matter the colour of your skin, which god you may or may not pray to, or who you love, everyone is treated equally.

As future generations become more and more tolerant, it’s vital our kids are taught about equality and diversity at school.

The more understanding children are of others who may be different to them, the more tolerant our society will be. If we close childrens’ eyes and prevent them from learning about different cultures, religions and relationships, our society will become more divided, less tolerant and unequal.

We’ve unfortunately seen this in Birmingham recently with parents protesting outside their childrens’ school because they don’t like the fact their children are being taught about same-sex relationships.

I’m pleased an injunction has been granted to stop these parents from protesting. No one should be protesting outside a school, it’s not fair on the pupils or the hard-working teachers.

It’s absolutely right that LGBT relationships are a compulsory part of the school curriculum. Primary school pupils aren’t being taught about sex, they’re simply being taught the fact that two men can love each other and two women can love each other, just in the same way a man and a woman love one another.

Stopping children from learning about same-sex relationships will make them less tolerant and is likely to inflame divisions in our society.

As a proud supporter of LGBT rights, I make no apologies for defending LGBT relationships being taught in our schools.

Even today, far too many children, and adults, hide their sexuality because they’re fearful of how they will be treated by society. We can’t let this continue.

We must live in a society where everyone can be who they want to be. We only get one shot at life, so live it how you want to live it, and love who you want to love.”