Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was under fire from church leaders last night after saying faith schools should teach that homosexuality is 'normal and harmless'.

In a pitch to win the 'pink vote', Mr Clegg called for a raft of measures to boost equal rights.

He wants all schools - including faith schools - to be legally obliged to implement anti-homophobic bullying policies and to teach that homosexuality is 'normal and harmless'.

In an interview with gay magazine Attitude, Mr Clegg said gay men and women should have the same rights as married couples - including the symbolic right to use the word ' marriage' rather than 'civil partnership'.

However, Mr Clegg's proposals were criticised as 'disturbing' by church leaders and MPs. A Church of England spokesman said: '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.

'Whatever one's view on sexual ethics, the notion people should be forced to teach as fact what are arguably matters of belief is disturbing.'

A senior Anglican bishop, who did not want to be named, added: 'Instituting something that must be taught, come what may, is frighteningly fascist.'

Tory MP Philip Davies said: 'This is an extraordinary view for someone who describes himself as a liberal.

'He should accept people of particular faiths should be allowed to have a different point of view to himself and teach that in faith schools.'
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