In hopes of winning 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 Attitude, a gay magazine, Mr Clegg said gay men and women should have the same rights as married couples including the 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."

And Norman Wells, from the Family Education Trust, said: ''Not only is Nick Clegg showing a woeful lack of respect for faith schools, but he is also totally disregarding the deeply-held views of parents. The vast majority of parents do not want their children’s schools to be turned into vehicles to promote positive images of homosexual relationships. It is a fundamental principle of education law that children must be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents. Nick Clegg is pushing a radical social agenda which would only cause confusion among vulnerable young people and expose them to increased risks to their physical and emotional health. Instead of seeking to advance the gay rights agenda, he would do better to commit his party to presenting positive images of stable marriages and of sexual restraint outside marriage."

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