In last week’s Herald Kevin McKenna seemed to rail against LGBT+ rights, including gay marriage, the existence of the trans community and the right of all young people in Scotland to access an LGBT+ inclusive education ("This survey exposes the SNP's culture of hostility to Christians, heraldscotland, July 23).

He is not alone : across the Atlantic and around the world, "Christianity" is frequently used as a cloak to roll back progress on social issues, particularly LGBT+ rights.

We would contend that despite his certainty Kevin does not speak for all Christians. As Christians, we are called upon to follow the example of Jesus’s love in action and believe that we are all - in our glorious, rainbow diversity - children of God.   

Kevin conflates the question of LGBT+ rights with the existence of faith-based state schools, which in Scotland are predominantly, but not exclusively, Roman Catholic, highlighting these as a "bulwark" against LGBT+ inclusive education. This is a false dichotomy, sending a clear message to LGBT+ people that not only are they not welcome in faith schools, but that there is no place for them in the Christian community. This is simply not the case.

We have both served as teachers in faith schools and as a parent (and chair of a PTC), we fully support the existence of faith schools, whether they be Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Quaker. We recognise the historical and ongoing prejudice affecting these minority faith communities and believe that faith schools can play an important role in our diverse communities, not only delivering the curriculum to young people but providing a space to explore and develop their spirituality, beliefs and culture.

All of these schools - every single one of them - will have LGBT+ pupils and many will also have LGBT+ teachers, school staff and families. They may be ready to be "out", they may not feel safe to be "out’" but they are there. That’s why Scottish Government policy stipulates that ALL schools, faith based and non-denominational alike, must provide an LGBT+ inclusive education, and indeed why, despite Kevin’s misconceptions, most of our schools do so.

What Kevin appears to desire is a rolling back to the dark days of Section 28 (Section 2A in Scotland) – a “don’t say trans” position where schools fear legal consequences, pupils live in ignorance and isolation and prejudice goes unchallenged. We cannot and will not allow this to happen: as educators, we have a commitment under the GTCS standards to work for social justice, demonstrating trust, respect and integrity. As Christians, we hold the same responsibility to treat our fellow human beings with love and respect, and in fact we believe that Kevin’s reference to a bulwark has a point, but in the opposite sense to which he refers; our schools, faith-based, non-denom, independent, should all provide a bulwark against bigotry, ignorance and hatred.

Our experiences do not reflect Kevin’s recollections, we have not “been advised to be cautious about expressing our Christian faith”, and indeed wish to make it clear that we will continue to loudly proclaim the good news of Jesus’s message of love and compassion to all, not a select few.

Pam Currie is a queer teacher, activist and Quaker; John Kelly is a retired lecturer, activist and Roman Catholic.

Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk