Fundraising platform GoFundMe has removed a campaign which sought to raise legal funds to fight the implementation of the 'No Outsiders' LGBTIQ+ program in UK schools - a similar situation to that faced by former NRL player Israel Folau earlier this year.
According to The Guardian, organisation Humanists UK demanded the page's removal, claiming it broke the crowdfunding website's terms and conditions.
GoFundMe has now deleted the campaign, stating: “We have removed this page as it violates our terms of service.”
The website's guidelines read that it may not be used for “campaigns we deem, in our sole discretion, to be in support of, or for the legal defence of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender or gender identity, or serious disabilities or diseases.”
The page was reportedly set up by protester Shakeel Afsar to raise the legal fees needed to fight a high court injunction against him protesting near Anderton Park primary school in Birmingham, with Birmingham City Council winning the right to impose an exclusion zone around the school.
GoFundMe has removed the campaign, claiming it broke their terms of service. Source: GoFundMe
Prior to the campaign's deletion, Afsar had raised £9,500 of the target £30,000.
Afsar and other demonstrators are protesting the 'No Outsiders' program, which was written by teacher Andrew Moffat and aims to educate school students about the characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. The program, which could be compared to Australia's Safe Schools program, also delves into different types of relationships and families including, including LGBTIQ+ ones.
Humanists UK said they were "delighted GoFundMe has removed the page".
BBC reports that Afsar plans on resuming his protest outside of the school's exclusion zone later this week.
