Primary school children in France will be taught about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, under new plans announced by the French Government.

The move comes as the French Government continues to press ahead with a bill to legalise same-sex marriage, which is due to be voted in January 2013.

French Minister for Women’s Rights Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said children as young as six and seven will learn about homosexual relationships and same-sex parenting.

The proposals are said to be part of a wider scheme to make France a “world leader in the fight against homophobia”.

A raft of other measures was also announced, including plans to give transgender people legal recognition of their new sex.

Last week the French Socialist Government said the plans to legalise same-sex must include “assisted human procreation” for gay couples.