Continuing discrimination against LGBTQ students

It’s 2017, and we continue to learn about horrific treatment against LGBTQ students in Canada and in particular the United States.

The following development indicates how religious support for students is halted by the religious right. In the U.S., political science professor Ruthie Robertson, of Brigham Young University, was fired from her position for supporting gay pride.

The Mormon place of learning banned baptism for the children of gay parents. Robertson posted her support on Facebook and also criticized the church for fighting against LGBTQ rights.

She went on to criticize, “Love the sinner, hate the sin” rhetoric in the past, stating that she does not believe homosexuality is a sin any more than heterosexuality is a sin. She added, “Because that ‘sin’ is part of who that person is.”

Kentucky schools may soon have a licence to discriminate against LGBTQ students. Again, the religious right’s war on LGBTQ citizens in the U.S. is well known and publicized.

These groups do not support the realism of one’s sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. They oppose churchstate separation and seek political power to mandate their doctrines.

For years, fundamentalist religious-political organizations have spewed hateful venom toward LGBTQ people. They insist that same-sex marriage violates biblical mandates or indeed any religious text.

Laws should reflect equality and fairness, not the doctrine of particular churches. Education on all levels must be open to LGBTQ information and intolerance must be eradicated.

Schools have been bombarded by the religious right and try to block policies that ensure schools will be welcoming and safe for LGBTQ youth.

Back in this country, Alberta’s minister of education has ordered two private, Edmonton Christian schools to allow students to form gay/straight alliance groups. Both Baptist schools have not responded to the order and referred all inquiries to legal counsel.

The education minister, David Eggen, stated, “The order demands that they follow Alberta law. Students deserve to be supported in their schools and our government will do everything in our power to do that.”

There is hope in Canadian attitudes within the education system. A large study last year headed by the University of Alberta found that 141 school districts in rural, urban and Catholic divisions indicate that support towards LGBTQ students is growing.

Researcher Dr. Catherine Taylor states, “This suggests that the time has come to end the official and unofficial “don’t say the word gay rule that still exists in many schools and introduce specific supports to ensure the wellbeing of LGBTQ youth.”

A large number of teachers approve LGBTQ-inclusive education. It also found teachers in Catholic schools are only slightly less likely to approve, but much less likely to practise LGBTQ-inclusive positive education.

Two per cent of respondents cited conflict with religious beliefs as holding them back and 18 per cent said teachers should be able to opt out for religious reasons.

Of course, the Christian right educational facilities will not participate and that must change. All students must receive an education without prejudice, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Negative religious influence has no place in the classrooms of any nation. Unite, learn and be safe. Gerard Veldhoven is a longtime activist for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His column appears Wednesdays in The News.