The majority of the British public (60%) think teachers at primary schools should talk positively about different families, including those who are LGBT.
The research, commissioned by Stonewall - Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality - found most people are supportive of teaching children about same-sex parenting.
The figure is higher in young people, with 68% of those aged 16-24 saying that teachers should support LGBT-inclusive teaching in their classroom.
From September 2020, all secondary schools in England and Wales will be required to teach about sexual orientation and gender identity.
And all primary schools will teach about different families, which can include LGBT families. But there has been much-publicised backlash against the move with parents protesting outside schools in Birmingham and Nottingham.
Previously legislation known as section 28, which was enacted in May 1988, stated local authorities could not “intentionally promote homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
Although section 28 was repealed, Stonewall says its “devastating impact” is still felt in education today.
“It can be the difference between deciding to turn up to lessons or not, and even the difference between holding out hope for the future or not..."”
The new study, which polled 1000 people, found almost half (45%) of LGBT students still face bullying in school.
Stonewall research from 2017 found two in five LGBT pupils (40%) are never taught anything about LGBT issues during their time at school.
Ben Saunders, Stonewall’s 2019 young campaigner of the year, said: “LGBT-inclusive education makes a massive difference when you’re in school and you’re LGBT. So many people feel isolated and left out on their own because they’ve never learnt about being LGBT.
“It can be the difference between deciding to turn up to lessons or not, and even the difference between holding out hope for the future or not.”
Stonewall is currently working with over a thousand schools, including over 600 faith schools, to deliver an LGBT-inclusive curriculum and tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools.
Paul Twocock, chief executive of Stonewall, said: “We owe it to the next generation to ensure our schools are a place where all children and young people can be themselves.
“It’s essential the Government invests more in training and resources to better prepare teachers and schools to deliver high-quality LGBT-inclusive teaching now and in the future.”