Human rights campaigner takes questions from students at Wellingborough School

The lecture came as part of the school’s external speaker programme which has seen numerous visitors discuss a variety of issues with pupils.

Tatchell is well-known for his work towards LGBT freedom in a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him campaign against the Government on a variety of issues.

He spoke to pupils about some of the progress already made by the LGBT social movement, as well as the anti-LGBT laws and discriminations still in place both in the UK and throughout the world, describing the move towards equality an ‘unfinished battle.’

He also gave pupils some thought-provoking facts and figures, including that nearly 80 of the world’s 193 countries still have some form of LGBT prohibition and that a third of people identifying as LGBT have suffered from hate crime.

The lecture prompted many questions and further thoughts from pupils, which Tatchell took towards the end of his talk.

One of the key themes was the question of when, if ever, LGBT equality would be won.

Despite the obstacles still in place, Tatchell was optimistic that equality would one day come, stating that ‘LGBT people are becoming more visible and more assertive in demanding their freedom.’

He described movement towards freedom as ‘an unstoppable global trend,’ suggesting that progress is still being made for equality.

Garry Bowe, headmaster at Wellingborough School, praised the work of Tatchell and said: “One of the key values at Wellingborough School is that of equality and having a healthy respect for one another.

“Peter Tatchell has campaigned for LGBT equality across his life, and his lecture provoked many thoughts and comments from pupils.

“I am sure pupils will be inspired by Tatchell, and hope that they can fight against the inequality they see in their worlds.”

Tatchell was also in the news at the weekend after disrupting Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn while he made a speech about human rights.