Thousands march in Spain to challenge diversity lessons in schools

Thousands marched to defend the right of parents to withdraw their children from diversity lessons (Photo: Evangelical Council of Murcia)

Thousands of people marched in Spain last week to challenge LGBT diversity lessons in schools.

Around 5,000 people took part in the march in the south-eastern city of Murcia under the banner of "our children belong to us". 

The slogan for the march was a response to Spain's Education Minister, Isabel Celáa, who is reported to have said that "no one should commit the mistake of thinking that children belong to their parents". 

The march comes after Spain's left-wing coalition government said it would overturn the right of parents in Murcia to withdraw their children from diversity lessons.

The government told Murcia to overturn the opt-out within a month, saying that "this sort of conscientious objection is not covered by the law". 

Organisers of the march said they were calling for an "education free of gender ideology", Evangelical Focus reports. 

Pastor Ángel Zapata, President of the Evangelical Council of Murcia, told Spanish newspaper Protestante Digital, that parents were prepared to march again to make their voices heard. 

"It has been an opportunity to go out and reclaim our role as parents. We will see what happens now, but parents are ready to fight this battle, and if there is a need for us to go back to the streets again, we will do so," Zapata said. 

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Pope Leo XIV listed among Time’s 2026 100 most influential people
Pope Leo XIV listed among Time’s 2026 100 most influential people

Pope Leo XIV has been included in Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, marking another milestone in the early months of his historic papacy.

The backstory to St George and his flag
The backstory to St George and his flag

23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. In recent years St George’s flag has become increasingly used at sporting events, and elsewhere in England. This is the story … 

Dear Saint George: A letter to England’s patron saint
Dear Saint George: A letter to England’s patron saint

Peter Crumpler shares his appreciation for England's patron saint.

Baroness Scotland urges people of all faiths to support religious freedom
Baroness Scotland urges people of all faiths to support religious freedom

Two thirds of people worldwide are believed to live in countries with no, or limited, religious freedom.