Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, has said that children attending faith schools should be taught that homosexuality is “normal and harmless”. The proposal has been attacked by one Church of England bishops as “frighteningly fascist”.

In an interview with homosexual magazine, Attitude, he called on all the political parties to prove that they supported full equality for homosexuals, and accused David Cameron, the Conservative leader, of being untrustworthy on the issue.

The Liberal Democrats support measures forcing teachers, including those working in faith schools, to implement policies to combat ‘homophobic bullying’, with lessons teaching that same-sex relationships are “normal”.

Mr Clegg said: “Crucially faith schools should have a requirement to have an anti-homophobic bullying policy at their school.”

The Liberal Democrat leader also called for lesbians and homosexual men who have undergone a civil partnership ceremony to be given the formal and symbolic status of a “married” couple.

Rules which bar homosexual men from giving blood should be scrapped, and refugees who flee persecution on the grounds of their sexuality should receive an automatic right of asylum in the United Kingdom. 

Mr Clegg also questioned Mr Cameron’s commitment to homosexual rights on the grounds that he voted against the repeal of Section 28.

The measure, introduced by the Conservatives in 1988, banned the promotion of homosexuality by public bodies and became a totemic cause before its repeal in 2002.

Clegg’s proposals were quickly condemned by Church leaders and pro-family groups.

One senior Anglican bishop, who was not identified, told The Independent, “I think this will go down badly even among the not overtly evangelical. Instituting something that must be taught, come what may, is frighteningly fascist.”

Janina Ainsworth, chief education officer for the Church of England, said she saw no reason for changing the current laws governing sex education in schools. “The Church’s traditional teaching is that sex should be set within the framework of a faithful marriage, and sex education in church schools will be delivered within that context,” she said.

“Further upheaval of the guidance for sex education would not be welcomed by many schools, church or otherwise,” Ainsworth added.

Norman Wells of the Family Education Trust, told the Daily Mail, ”Not only is Nick Clegg showing a woeful lack of respect for faith schools, but he is also totally disregarding the deeply-held views of parents.”

“The vast majority of parents do not want their children’s schools to be turned into vehicles to promote positive images of homosexual relationships. It is a fundamental principle of education law that children must be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.”

Wells further charged that “Nick Clegg is pushing a radical social agenda which would only cause confusion among vulnerable young people and expose them to increased risks to their physical and emotional health.”