LIVERPOOL marked the International Day Against Homophobia with a visit from leading gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Mr Tatchell was in the city yesterday to see the launch of a five-year plan to tackle homophobic bullying of young people.

The visit also coincided with the publication of statistics compiled by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), whose research found that 65% of teachers in the city knew of students being victimised in relation to their sexuality on a weekly basis.

Mr Tatchell joined Liverpool council leader Cllr Joe Anderson, deputy leader Cllr Paul Brant and Marie Causer, mother of murdered Liverpool teen Michael Causer, who was gay.

Mr Tatchell said: “Homophobia is wrecking the lives of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“There is something seriously wrong with a society where young people are required to change and censor their lives in order to spare themselves harassment, intimidation and physical attack.

“Unchallenged homophobia allows intolerance to fester, leading to a new generation of prejudiced adults.

“It colludes with the hatred that is the root cause of homophobic violence. It is the public duty of all local authorities, schools and youth groups to encourage understanding and acceptance.”

Mrs Causer said she believed it was vital to begin education about different sexualities at the age of 11 in order that, in some cases, prejudiced parents would benefit from their children’s learning.

Council leader Cllr Anderson said he was fully supportive of the five-year plan.

He added: “Any form of prejudice or bullying is completely unacceptable and this plan shows we are absolutely committed to tackling the issue of people being picked on because of their sexuality.”

He pointed to the cases of both Michael Causer, who was killed in 2008, and trainee police officer James Parkes, who was attacked in Liverpool’s gay village last year.

Cllr Anderson added: “These rare but tragic cases have shown clearly that there is a need to make sure we support gay and lesbian young people who are being bullied, and educate others that it is wrong to discriminate against them.”

Other efforts include the release of a DVD entitled Denial, about a young person bullied because his tormentors believe he is gay. It is being shown in Liverpool schools as part of their English curriculum.